Image: South West View of Lichfield Cathedral.

Image from: John Jackson, History of the City and Cathedral of Lichfield (London, 1805). Local Studies and History, Birmingham Central Library

Text: Malcolm Dick

Summary

In 18th century Britain, Lichfield was a small place in Staffordshire with a population of less than 5,000, but its importance was considerable. Not only was it a cathedral city with a regional religious influence, it also provided the home for many intellectuals. Samuel Johnson was the best known son of Lichfield, but he was one of several leading figures who were born, educated or lived as adults in the city. This exhibition explores the reasons for Lichfield’s significance as a “city of philosophers”. The lives of many of Lichfield’s famous citizens are described elsewhere on www.revolutionaryplayers.org.uk. [Click here to go to People section]

Sections: [click on the images on the right to access each section]

1. “A City of Philosophers”
2. Lichfield’s Origins (1)
3. Lichfield’s Origins (2)
4. Lichfield’s Origins (3)
5. Re-building the City (1)
6. Re-building the City (2)
7. Re-building the City (3)
8. Roads and Inns (1)
9. Roads and Inns (2)
10. A City of Consumers (1)
11. A City of Consumers (2)
12. A City of Consumers (3)
13. Educational Achievements: Lichfield Grammar School (1)
14. Educational Achievements: Lichfield Grammar School (2)
15. The Decline of Lichfield

Sources and Further Reading

Lichfield Heritage Centre
Lichfield Record Office (www.staffordshire.gov.uk/archives)
Erasmus Darwin House (www.erasmusdarwin.org).
Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum (www.lichfield.gov.uk/sjmuseum).
Clayton, Howard, Coaching City (Bala, 1970).
Greenslade, M W, (ed.), A History of the County of Stafford, Vol. 14 (Oxford, 1990).
Jackson, John, History of the City and Cathedral of Lichfield (London, 1805).
Laithwaite, Percy, The History of the Lichfield Conduit Lands Trust 1546-1946 (Lichfield, Lomax, 1947).
Lomax, T G., A Short Account of the Ancient and Modern State of the City and Close of Lichfield (Lichfield, T G Lomax, 1819).
Shaw, Stebbing, The History and Antiquities of Staffordshire (1798, 1801).
Uglow, Jenny, The Lunar Men (London, Faber, 2002).
Upton, Chris, A History of Lichfield (Chichester, Phillimore, 2001).