The name Lichfield is derived from Letocetum (from the Celtic for grey wood), a Romano British Village. Originally called Licidfelth and was mentioned as being the place where St Chad fixed the Episcopal see of the Mercians in 669. The name Lichfield means field of the dead.

200 – Letocetum was built by the Romans

300 - A thousand Christians were martyred during the reign of the Roman  Emperor Diocletian

669 – Chad moved his bishopric to Licidfelth

833 – Lichfield was listed as one of the 28 cities of Britain

1086 - Lichfield was held by the bishop of Chester

1208 – A hospital was built outside the town

1291 – Lichfield was severely damaged by a fire

1304 - Lichfield sent 2 members to Parliament

1387 – Ordinances were granted by Richard II to the Guild of St Mary and St     John the Baptist

1400 – A Guildhall was built in Bore Street

1424 – Milleys Hospital was built in Beacon Street

1538 – The friary was closed by Henry VIII and St Chad’s shrine was destroyed

1548 – The first corporation was incorporated by the charted of Edward VI

1553 – Lichfield became a county in its own right, separate from the rest of     Staffordshire, by Queen Mary’s Charter

1575 – Queen Elizabeth I visited the city

1593 – The plague broke out

1612 – Edward Wightman was burnt at the stake in Market Place. He was he last   person in England to be burnt at the stake.

1643 – The Parliamentarians desecrated the Cathedral and bombarded it in 1646   when the central spire collapsed

1662 - Work on restoring the cathedral began and finished in 1669

1687 – A new bishop’s palace was built

1690 – Thatched roofs were banned in Lichfield due to the risk of fire

1709 – Dr Johnson was born in Breadmarket Street

1797 – A canal was built to Lichfield

1801 – Lichfield had a population of 4,842

1806 – A body of men called Improvement Commissioners was formed. They     had power to clean, pave and light the streets

1833 – A gasworks opened

1836 – The old corporation was reformed into an elected council with a Mayor as   its civil head

1846 – The Guildhall was rebuilt

1849 – A corn exchange was built, where grain could be bought and sold

1859 – The first public library and museum was built in Bird Street

1920 – Friary Estate was given to the council as a gift

1933 - Victoria Hospital was built

1980s – Boley Park Estate of private houses was built

1996 – Three Spires Shopping Centre was built

With the best of intention all of the above information is true, correct and given in good faith, however, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within the above.

Equally we recommend that should you need or want to find out more you should conduct more detailed independant research.