The site of the Lichfield Cathedral Close, elements of which are still extant, including parts of the 14th century boundary wall of 14th century date. Elements of the south gate, also of 14th century date, were exposed during excavations at St Mary's House. Elements of the site are scheduled and/or listed.
CLOSE. SITE OF LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CLOSE. S GATEWAY, OP. MUNIMENT ROOM, EXCAVATED 1989-90. REVEALING BASE OF OCTAGONAL TOWER ON E SIDE. <No source given>
2 SMALL TRENCHES IN DARWIN'S CLOSE UNCOVERED QUANTITIES OF 13TH AND LATER POT, BUT THIS MATERIAL PROBABLY FROM MUCH LATER DEMOLITION. BUT LEVEL OF TOP OF DEPOSITS MUST VARY ACROSS THE CLOSE.<9>
DENDRO DATE FOR 10 THE CLOSE GAVE DATE RANGE OF 1453-78 FOR TIMBERS. <10>
VARIOUS, MOSTLY UNDATED, FEATURES IDENTIFIED IN SERIES OF WATCHING BRIEFS.<11>
WATCHING BRIEF AT 12 REVEALED ONLY C18/19 MATERIAL.<12>
Prior to the extension of modern school buildings on the site of St Chad's School in the north-west corner of Cathedral Close, four trial holes were cut into the school yard; two against the back south edge of the line of the 14th century Cathedral Close wall, and two further south closer to the existing school building. No hole reached natural or medieval ground surface, though residual 12th to 14th century pottery was recovered. The two trenches on the line of the close wall both exposed the top of the surviving structure of the close wall, heavily damaged in the civil war. In both trenches the mortared core of the red sandstone wall was exposed to a depth of 1.8 metres, and its full width of 2.5 metres in the easternmost trench. In both trenches the remains of the wall were sealed by later dumping layers, and on the outer (north) face by the present 18th century brick boundary wall. (SB, 19-Dec-2003) <13>
| --- | SST3052 - Evaluation Report: Alex Jones (Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit). 1990. Lichfield Cathedral Close: Archaeological Evaluation (Stages 1 - 4) 1989 - 1990 Site Narrative. |
| --- | SST314 - Serial: Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society. 2010. Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Transactions Volume XLIV (2010). |
| --- | SST3452 - Scientific/Specialist Report: R. E. Howard, R. R. Litton and C. D. Litton (Ancient Monuments Laboratory). 1998. Tree Ring Analysis of Timbers from 10 The Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire. 18A. |
| --- | SST3575 - Scientific/Specialist Report: A. J. Arnold, Dr. R. R. Laxton and Dr. C. D. Litton (English Heritage). 2002. Tree Ring Analysis of Timbers from 8 Vicars' Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire. |
| --- | SST3576 - Scientific/Specialist Report: A. J. Arnold, Dr. R. R. Laxton and Dr. C. D. Litton (English Heritage). 2002. Tree Ring Analysis of Timbers from 1 Vicars' Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire. |
| --- | SST3577 - Scientific/Specialist Report: A. J. Arnold, Dr, R. R. Laxton and Dr. C. D. Litton (English Heritage). 2002. Tree Ring Analysis of Timbers from 3 Vicars' Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire. |
| --- | SST3612 - Building Recording Report: Ian Pattison (RCHM). 1996. Darwin House, Beacon Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire: Historic Building Report. |
| --- | SST4091 - Drawn: G. Reffin, A. Deakin, A. Rowley, N.Smith, I. Roland, L.Barlow and P. Selo. 1988/1989. Minster Pool, Lichfield: Cathedral Close Wall. Permatrace. 1:10. |
| --- | SST5047 - Watching Brief Report: Kevin Blockley (Cambrian Archaeological Projects). 2009. Newton's College, Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire: Archaeological Watching Brief. |
| --- | SST5400 - Watching Brief Report: Kevin Blockley (Cambrian Archaeological Projects). 2018. Bollard Pits at the West End of Cathedral and at the South Gate, Lichfield: Archaeological Watching Brief. |
| <1> | SST3723 - Designation Record: Department for Culture Media and Sport / English Heritage. Ongoing-2016. Scheduled Monument Designation Documents, Scheduled Monument Consents and Section 17 Management Agreements. A.M. 7 (M.W.T. 1969). |
| <2> | SST3723 - Designation Record: Department for Culture Media and Sport / English Heritage. Ongoing-2016. Scheduled Monument Designation Documents, Scheduled Monument Consents and Section 17 Management Agreements. A.M. 107 (C.A. Snowdon, 1984). |
| <3> | SST3723 - Designation Record: Department for Culture Media and Sport / English Heritage. Ongoing-2016. Scheduled Monument Designation Documents, Scheduled Monument Consents and Section 17 Management Agreements. A.M. 7 (C.A. Snowdon, 1984), O.S. Map. |
| <4> | SST2534 - Written: Jim Gould. 1976. Lichfield: Archaeology and Development. |
| <5> | SST2660 - Serial: South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society. 1982. South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Transactions 1980-1981 (Volume XXII). |
| <6> | SST167 - Descriptive text: HEWITT J. ARCHAEOLOGICAL JOURNAL. VOL 31:P327. |
| <7> | SST1460 - Descriptive text: STOCKLEY JJG. 1932. Historical Collection Staffordshire. P272-4. |
| <8> | SST105 - Evaluation Report: Warwick Rodwell. 1990. The Visitors' Study Centre (Old Muniment Room), Lichfield Cathedral Close: A Final Note on the Trial Excavations (Phase 3). |
| <9> | SST3424 - Evaluation Report: Bob Meeson (Historic Buildings Consultant). 1998. Darwin's Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire: An Archaeological Evaluation 1998. 16H. |
| <11> | SST3479 - Watching Brief Report: Bob Meeson (Historic Buildings Consultant). 1999. Darwin House, Lichfield: An Archaeological Watching Brief. 19A. |
| <12> | SST3466 - Watching Brief Report: Bob Meeson (Historic Buildings Consultant). 1999. 12 The Close, Lichfield: Archaeological Watching Brief in August 1999. |
| <13> | SST1304 - Serial: Society for Medieval Archaeology. 1988. Medieval Archaeology Volume XXXII (1988). Volume 32 - page 274 (Number 184). |
| 07552 | Parent of: 10, 10A and 10B Dam Street, Lichfield (Building) |
| 07530 | Parent of: 23a and 23b The Close, Lichfield (Building) |
| 07531 | Parent of: 24 The Close, Lichfield (Building) |
| 07529 | Parent of: Bishop's House, The Close, Lichfield (Building) |
| 00192 | Parent of: Cathedral Close Defences (Monument) |
| 07483 | Parent of: Outbuildings, South of Newton's College, The Close, Lichfield (Building) |
| 04431 | Parent of: South Gate, Lichfield Cathedral Close (Monument) |
| 07485 | Parent of: West Gate, Lichfield Cathedral Close (Monument) |