A COMMUNITY group is creating a new hub to celebrate Lichfield heritage in a historic building which has never been open to the public.
Lichfield Discovered will hold workshops, tours, events, talks and displays in The Schoolmaster’s House on St John Street for an initial five-year period after an agreement with Lichfield District Council.
The building, which dates back to 1682, was for more than two centuries part of Lichfield Grammar School and educated the likes of Samuel Johnson and David Garrick. It later became a doctor’s surgery and army pay office during the First World War, before becoming council offices.
Many historic features remain, including wood panelling, fireplaces and a wooden spiral staircase to the attic which was used as a dormitory by boarders and still bears some of their names carved into the doors.
The chair of Lichfield Discovered, Kate Gomez, said:
“The building really is stunning and is packed with history.
“We’re passionate about using it as a place to share Lichfield’s wider history too and look forward to talking to local people about how we might do that.”
The use of The Schoolmaster’s House by Lichfield Discovered is part of the repurposing of the wider Lichfield District Council House site.
Over the past two years, much of the rest of the building has become a business centre with tenants including Barclays and the NHS.
Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of Lichfield District Council, said:
“We are very excited to give Lichfield Discovered the opportunity to use The Schoolmaster’s House.
“It is a very special building with a rich history of its own and I can’t wait to see what local people create inside.”
Lichfield Discovered – made-up of volunteer historians, teachers, community workers and museum curators – has already unveiled plans for monthly open days starting on Bower weekend at the end of May which will give people a chance to tour the attic dormitories and former classroom which has now become the council chamber.
It also plans to hold activity days for people to share research and events featuring local community groups and museums.
For more information about Lichfield Discovered visit www.lichfielddiscovered.org.
It all sounds absolutely brilliant to allow the local and general visitors to see Lichfield ‘s past history BUT it’s also a great pity that our history of our is locked up and out of sight to anyone. ,The last time I saw Lichfields past was in the St Mary’s museum upstairs,that was really worth the viewing .Is there any possibility that this can be incorporated into this program?
Robert, it would be interesting to know the thinking behind the person who gave you the thumbs down for your comment. Personally, I agree with you. I thought the history exhibition at St Mary’s was well put together and thought out and it seems that no one gave any thought about where this could be recreated/relocated when it closed.