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Lichfield
Lichfield is one of seven civil parishes that are considered cities in England and it is located just 16 miles north of Birmingham. Lichfield is considered by many to be an ecclesiastical centre due to the cities long religious history however Lichfield is also famous for its unique three spired cathedral and also for being the birthplace of Dr Johnson, the writer of the first Dictionary of the English Language. Lichfield is loved by many as it has seen little industrial or commercial growth in modern times which has ensured that it has kept it's rustic and historic charm and has not become victim to the urban sprawl that blights many cities in the UK. Despite this Lichfield is still one of the most populous areas in Staffordshire with a population of some 27,900 people in the city itself. Lichfield can trace its heritage back to Roman times, 3 miles south of the site of the present city the Romans founded Letocetum, one of the roots of the Lichfield name.
In 833 CE the Historia Britonum listed Lichfield as one of only 28 cities in the country, and the poem "The Lament of Cynddylan" records that Lichfield was taken in battle by pagan opponents, whom historians agree are most likely Mercians from the north and east. For many centuries it appears that the city was always in conflict with it seeing various Roman, Pagan and Christian occupiers, Bede records Lichfield in his "Ecclesiastical History of the English People" as a site where St Chad fixed the episcopal seat of the Mercians in 669 CE. To this day many of the Christian kings of Mercia remain buried across various sites, one of the oldest is Celred who was buried in 716. At the time of the Domesday survey Lichfield was held by the Bishop of Chester and it is noted only as a small village! There is even evidence that a castle once existed within the confines of the city at the time of Henry I, and a path that runs near the grammar school follows the line of the original ditch that surrounded the castle.
Lichfield once again rose to prominence during the English Civil War when it was divided with the catherdral authorities supporting the king and the townsfolk siding with the parliamentarians. Both sides were anxious to control the city as Lichfield is in an important strategic location due to the sheer number of supply routes that passed through the area. This continued well into the 18th century when the city was a major coaching area and also sat on one of the main routes to the northwest and to Ireland. Lichfield is also seen as a centre for intellectualism; in part due to many famous residents including Samuel Johnson, David Garrick, Erasmus Darwin and Anna Seward.
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