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Lichfield Cathedral in 1868

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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer (1868)]

The cathedral, which is dedicated to St. Chad, was founded about 665 by King Oswy, and rebuilt about 700 by Bishop Hedda, who removed thither the bones of the patron saint from Stow. It was completed by Bishop Langton in 1296, and the damages inflicted during the Civil Wars in the 17th century were repaired by Bishop Racket. The whole of the cathedral was again restored by Wyatt in 1788. The style is chiefly early English, but there are traces of Norman work. It is built in the form of a cross, standing 2½ points out of the line of E. and W., and has one spire in the centre 268 feet in height, and two at the W. end of 183 feet. The size of the building is 411 feet by 67, and 60 in height.

There is a statue on the roof representing Charles II., which supplanted an older image of some Biblical personage. The W. portico contains some particularly fine carving, among which are figures of Christ, supported by two angels, of Moses and Aaron, &c. Over it is a large circular window given by James II.; but the stained-glass that now adorns it was inserted by Dean Addenbrooke in 1776. The N. and S. porches are also ornamented with figures, and the S. front possesses a stained-glass window.

The choir is in the decorated English style, and consists of 24 stalls. It contains monuments to Bishop Hacket, to one of the Stanley family, and others. The screen was erected by Bishop Langton. The Lady Chapel, built by the same bishop, is extremely beautiful. Each side contains three windows, and the stained-glass of two of those on the E. was brought by' Sir Brooke Boothby from the abbey of Herckenrode, in the diocese of Liege. The central window represents the Resurrection, and was designed by Sir J. Reynolds. To the N. of this chapel is a much older one, where two Mercian kings are buried.

The chapter-house is octagonal, and in the room over it Dean Heywood's valuable library is preserved, where may be seen a Saxon copy of the Gospels, a Koran taken at the siege of Buda, an illuminated Chaucer, Pope Nicholas's "Valor," and other rare and curious volumes. The sacristy contains an old fresco, and several interesting monuments.

Among the tombs in the body of the cathedral are those of Addison's father, Dr. Johnson, Lady Mary Wortley Montague, Garrick, Miss Seward, one by Chantrey to the two children of a Mrs. Robinson, a monument to those of the 50th, or Staffordshire regiment, who fell at Moodkee, the tomb of the late Earl of Lichfield, &c. The whole building has undergone a restoration by Mr. Gilbert Scott and Mr. S. Smirks. Service is performed daily at 10 A.M. and 4 P.M., and on Sundays at 10 A.M. and 4½ P.M.

 

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) - Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]