Tag: Lichfield

November 26th – Now, this has snagged my interest. Spinning out through Lichfield after lunch, I cycled down Wheel Lane. I’ve never noticed these two dramatic, intricate semis before; there has to be a story here. I don’t think they’re as old as one might think; those chimney pots and chimneys look inter-war to me, yet the apparent timber frame looks old. I just love them; the one on the right looks to have been repointed recently – that must have been an intricate job.

Anyone know anything about them?

November 26th – Passing through Lichfield for lunch, I spotted this unusual shot across the rooftops from the car park at the rear of Bakers Lane. Lichfield is such a photographed city that sometimes it can be hard to find an original angle. I like this one, because it shows how busy the roofline of the city is, and how, from many angles downtown, St. Mary’s dwarfs the cathedral. I would imagine that realisation has annoyed the odd lofty cleric from time to time…

November 15th – Another hidden history exists in the sleepy hamlet of Chesterfield, between Wall and Shenstone, south of Lichfield. The welcoming view of Chesterfield Lodge, now a high class, well maintained private residence would never belie it’s past as the parish workhouse. I think this is a gorgeous building, and it looks wonderful at night, the glow welcoming in a very dark, narrow lane.

November 15th – when people from outside visit Lichfield, they expect it to be rather twee and quite rural, as the guide books would have us believe. However, those knowing the city well realise that there are bits that are very, very urban, like here at Stowe, on Eastern Avenue. The flats, urban environment and traffic are worthy of any suburb of Birmingham, and are reminiscent of Erdington. Maybe Brownhills isn’t so far away from it’s posh neighbour, after all…

November 14th – Leamonsley is old, old Lichfield. Up until about 20 years ago, it was a distinct village, or hamlet on the Walsall Road into Lichfield, but it has since been laid siege to by modern housing estates and ribbon development. Subsumed by the terribly expansive sprawl of an expanding city, the once separate community retains it’s architectural and social identity, as well as one of the best – probably the best in my opinion – church in Lichfield. Unusually, the street lighting here is provided by very white metal halide lamps which give the streets an eerie atmosphere after nightfall. I love this place.

November 14th – Although Lichfield has lost many of it’s public houses, the rot doesn’t seem as bad in the city as elsewhere in the Midlands, possibly due to the tourist trade. There are many bars scattered about the centre, often with individual styles, quirks and features. I’ve never drank in the Horse and Jockey in Sandford Street, but it sure looks gorgeous at night.

November 11th – Another frustrating day of bad rail travel to Leicester. The day was also largely grim and overcast, but dry. Escaping work at 2pm, I didn’t get back to Lichfield until 4:30pm, when it was getting dark. A mooch round the city provided loads of great photo opportunities, but only a couple came out well. It’s been a truly rotten week for commuting, and finding photos to take has been hard, but rewarding. It really does bring brightness to often rather miserable days….

November 4th – feeling smug at having missed most of the rain this week, it finally caught me in Lichfield on Friday evening whilst shopping. In 30 minutes, the city was transformed from a buzzing market town on the interregnum of day and night into a glistening, rain-soaked ghost town, in which hurrying people huddled into their coats. The combination of night, lights and a gloss coating to the cobbles proved too much for me, and I just had to capture this moment. You can see more from the rainy city on my main blog.

October 16th – I was surprised and pleased to spot this large (but still relatively small…) wind turbine at Thatchmoor, near Lichfield. The actual location is hidden down a secluded, dead-end lane, but the machine is visible for some distance. It doesn’t seem to be in use yet, but I find it elegant, handsome and fascinating. 

October 11th – An early morning trip into Lichfield for a meeting resulted in getting the train from Lichfield City to Redditch. Whilst waiting for my train, I studied the bikes locked up on the platform – there are usually loads here. Amongst the stovepipe chainstore mountain bikes and a rather lovely battered old road bike, a huge – and I mean massive – Pashley stood tall. I can only assume that the Jolly Green Giant commutes from Lichfield. Note the odd angle of the saddle – that really would lift and separate. The double crossbar, flying bedstead design must make for a very heavy steed. Impressive, if not absolutely sensible.