Lichfield St Chad in 1817

Description from A Topographical History of Staffordshire by William Pitt (1817)

LICHFIELD ST CHAD.

The parish of St. Chad's, or as it is commonly called Stow, comprises a considerable part of the north-cast division of Lichfield and its suburbs, and several adjacent hamlets. The church is a very ancient fabric of stone; it is dedicated to St. Chadd. It derived its name from the circumstance of St. Chadd having had his cell here in the year 653.

In a small garden near this church is St. Chadd's Well, where many Popish devotees have been known to resort. Leland, in his Itinerary, mentions, "Stowe Church, in the east end of the towne, where is St. Chadd's well, a spring of pure water, where is seen a stone in the bottom of it, on which, some say, St. Chadd was wont naked to stand in the water, and praye. At this stone St. Chadd had his oratory in the tyme of Wulphar, King of the Merches."

In the times of Popery, when rites and ceremonies were considered essentials of religion, the clergy and populace assembled at this Well on Holy Thursday, and adorned its border with green boughs and flowers. This custom is still observed, for the clergyman, on Ascension-day, attended by the churchwardens of St. Chadd's, and a multitude of children, with green boughs in their hands, visits this well, when the ceremony of strewing the spot with flowers takes place, and the gospel for the day is read. The water of this well is whitish, and supposed to possess medicinal virtues. The interior of St. Chad's church was completely repaired about twenty years ago; in the chancel and aisles there are several monuments; and in the north aisle, where the shrine of St. Catherine formerly stood, there is now placed a very ancient font.

On the summit of Stow-hill, there is a handsome mansion erected by Mrs. Elizabeth Aston, and lately occupied by her sister Mrs. Gastrel. The lake in front of the house is called Stow-pool: it abounds with fish, and belongs to the corporation of Lichfield. There are many pleasant gardens and agreeable walks in this part of the city and its vicinage. Passing near Minster-pool, in the Mill-croft, on the left hand, is seen a stupendous Willow tree. The wide-spreading branches of this noble tree adorn the verdant fields, and form a pleasing entrance to the gardens of the Parchment-house, which are greatly ornamented by Mr. Saville's curious botanical and flower garden, containing many scarce and very valuable plants, the produce of various climates. Adjoining are two cold-baths, erected at the expence of the Rev. Dr. Falconer.

The large Willow tree has been generally supposed to have been planted by the late Dr. Samuel Johnson, or his father; but the Doctor never would admit the fact: it is probable that the vicinity of a building known by the name of 'the parchment house,' occasioned such a supposition. The business of parchment-making was for many years carried on by old Mr. Johnson, at that place, until he had greatly enriched his servants, and injured his own fortune. There are now no vestiges of such a manufactory; the pits are filled up, and the yard occupied in part by a gardener, and by Mr. Saville.

Dr. Johnson never failed to visit this tree whenever he came to Lichfield. During his visit here in 1781, he desired Dr. Jones to give him an account of it, saying it was by much the largest tree of the kind he had ever seen or heard of, and therefore wished to give an account of it in the 'Philosophical Transactions,' that the size might be recorded. When in Lichfield in 1784, he begged to have another copy of the letter, having mislaid the former, and not being able to recover it; but he was so ill daring his stay that it was forgotten.

Dimensions of the Lichfield Willow from the admeasurement of Dr. Jones. The trunk rises to the height of twelve feet eight inches and five-tenths, and is then divided into fifteen large ascending branches, which in very numerous and crowded subdivisions, spread, at the top in a circular form, not unlike the appearance of a sturdy oak, inclining a little towards the east. The circumference of the trunk at the bottom is fifteen feet nine inches and five-tenths; in the middle, eleven feet ten inches; and at the top, immediately below the branches, thirteen feet. The entire height of the tree is forty-nine feet; and the circumference of the branches, at their extremities, upwards of two hundred feet, overshadowing a plain not far short of four hundred feet. The surface of the trunk is very uneven, and the back is much furrowed. The most moderate computation of its age is near fourscore years; and some respectable authorities strongly incline to think a century has passed over its hcad.