Record Details

Summary

A probable medieval new town with borough status, planted by Bishop Roger de Clinton the mid 12th century. Archaeological excavations around the town have revealed evidence of the early line of the defences, along with evidence of post-medieval industrial activity including tanning and cloth dying.

Monument Type(s):

• TOWN (Norman to Tudor - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MARKET (Established, Norman - 1149 AD to 1154 AD)

Associated Events:

• EST190 - An archaeological evaluation at 19 Cathedral Close, Lichfield, 1989-1990. (NRHE Name - 19 The Close)
• EST233 - An archaeological assessment and evaluation of the Franciscan Friary, Lichfield, 1989. (NRHE Name - Lichfield Friary)
• EST251 - A historic building survey of St. Mary's House, The Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire.
• EST256 - An archaeological watching brief a St. Mary's House, Lichfield, December 1989. (NRHE Name - St Mary's House, The Close)
• EST608 - An archaeological evaluation at The Arts Centre, Bird Street, Lichfield, March to June 1999. (NRHE Name - Arts Centre, Bird Street) (Ref: Marches Archaeology Series 066)
• EST609 - An archaeological desk-based assessment of land at 17-21 Greenhill, Lichfield, May 1999. (NRHE Name - Land to the rear of 17-21 Greenhill) (Ref: Marches Archaeology Series 067)
• EST610 - An archaeological evaluation excavation at 17-21 Greenhill, Lichfield, September 1999. (NRHE Name - Land to the Rear of 17-21 Greenhill) (Ref: Marches Archaeology Series 093)
• EST611 - Archaeological excavation, watching brief and building recording at 9-21 Greenhill, Lichfield, April 2001. (NRHE Name - 9-21 Greenhill) (Ref: Report No. 178)
• EST616 - Proposal for analysis of an archaeological excavation and watching brief at 15 Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire.
• EST617 - An Archaeologcial evaluation of land on the north side of Sandford Street, Lichfield, Aug 1999. (NRHE Name - Sandford Street (Land to the north of)) (Ref: Marches Archaeology Series 083)
• EST619 - An archaeological desk-based assessment at The Civic Hall, Castle Dyke, Lichfield, November 2000. (NRHE Name - Land at the Civic Hall, Castle Dyke) (Ref: Report No. 156)
• EST629 - Tree Ring Analysis of timbers from 1, 3 and 8 Vicars' Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire. (NRHE Name - Vicars' Close, Beacon Street) (Ref: Reports 14/2002, 15/2002, 16/2002)
• EST648 - A Historic Building Survey at Darwin House, Beacon Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire. (Ref: NBR: 94674)
• EST705 - Archaeological excavations on the north side of Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire. (Ref: Project No. 644)
• EST716 - Tree-ring dating of timbers from the Hospital of St John the Baptist, Lichfield Staffordshire. (NRHE Name - Hospital of St. John the Baptist) (Ref: Report 62/2002)
• EST723 - A survey of the original construction and historical development of numbers 17 to 21 Greenhill, Lichfield, July 1998. (NRHE Name - 17-21 Greenhill)
• EST740 - Tree-ring dating of timbers from Milley's Hospital, Lichfield, 2002. (NRHE Name - Milley's Hospital) (Ref: Report 109/2002)
• EST744 - An archaeological evaluation at junction of Sandford Street and Swan Road, Lichfield. (NRHE Name - Land at Sandford Street / Swan Street / Swan Road) (Ref: Project No. 986 / Report No. 986)
• EST898 - An archaeological desk-based assessment at 15 Sandford Street, Lichfield, February 1999. (NRHE Name - 15 Sandford Street) (Ref: Marches Archaeology Series 058)
• EST899 - An archaeological evaluation at 15 Sandford Street, Lichfield, April 1999. (NRHE Name - 15 Sandford Street) (Ref: Marches Archaeology Series 064)
• EST900 - An archaeological excavation and watching brief at 15 Sandford Street, Lichfield, May to June 2000. (NRHE Name - 15 Sandford Street) (Ref: Report No. 187)
• EST907 - An archaeological watching brief at Darwin House, Beacon Street, Lichfield, January 1999. (NRHE Name - Darwin House, Beacon Street) (Ref: Report No. 99/2)
• EST908 - An archaeological evaluation at Darwin's Close, Lichfield, January 1998. (NRHE Name - Darwin's Close, Lichfield) (Ref: Report Number 98/01)
• EST909 - An archaeological watching brief at St John's Hospital, Lichfield, September-October 2000. (NRHE Name - St John's Hospital, Lichfield) (Ref: Report No. 00/18)
• EST913 - An archaeological watching brief on land adjacent to Minster Pool, Lichfield, October 1999. (NRHE Name - Land Adjacent to Minster Pool) (Ref: Marches Archaeology Series 096)
• EST915 - An archaeological watching brief at Staffordshire University Lichfield Campus, The Friary, Lichfield, September 2000. (NRHE Name - See Description) (Ref: Project No. 749)
• EST916 - An archaeological evaluation at Lichfield Cathedral School, Lichfield, September 1993. (NRHE Name - Lichfield Cathedral School)
• EST920 - An archaeological evaluation at 1 Bird Street, Lichfield, July 1995. (NRHE Name - 1 Bird Street) (Ref: Report No. 95277 / Job No. 0484)
• EST921 - An archaeological watching brief at No. 1 Bird Street, Lichfield, March to September 1999. (NRHE Name - 1 Bird Street) (Ref: Marches Archaeology Series 103)
• EST924 - An archaeological watching brief at 12 The Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire. (Ref: Report No. 99/25)

Protected Status:

Full description

Borough: Probably a medieval new town planted by bishop Roger de Clinton in the late 1140s. 286.5 burgages in 1298. No lapse of borough status. <1>

Significant Placename. <5>

A place-name, which probably originally applied to a larger area, but from the 7th century gradually applied more narrowly to the Cathedral and its surrounding area. <6>

Potential for deposits relating to borough near the site of the gate on Sandford Street. <11>

Medieval ditch identified in an archaeological evaluation trench off Sandford Street trenches may indicate the early line of the town defences. <12> (see PRN 03610: this PRN is probably the same as PRN 05520: the medieval defences in the western part of the town were suggested to have been further to the south-west prior to finding evidence of a large medieval ditch in various excavations in Sandford Street. (JM, Personal Comment))

Speed's map of 1610 depicts the northern side of Sandford Street as being open and unoccupied at this time, but there is evidence for at least two structures standing, including No 6.
Tanning in Lichfield has a long history, with the earliest tanning pits probably located alongside the Minster Pool. There are several references to tanners living in Sandford Street during the early post-medieval period. (for example see PRN 50358). Leather working was gradually phased out and had disappeared by 1840. (JM, 26/3/03) <13>

In the early post-medieval period, following the Dissolution, the Sandford Street area appears to have taken on a more industrial character with clay lined pits relating to tanning and possibly to cloth dying being located on both sides of the street. Evidence for metal working is also present. The industrial process continued, and intensified, into the 1900s. (JM, 26/3/03) <14>

A market was granted by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1149-54. The market was held on Sunday. (RB, 11-09-07) <15>

Sources and further reading

<1>	SST2313 - Serial: University of Keele. 1972. North Staffordshire Journal of Field Studies Volume 12 (1972). 'The Boroughs of Medieval Staffordshire' by D. M. Palliser, page 68.
<2>	SST2188 - Serial: South Staffordshire Archaeological & Historical Society. 1969. South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Transactions 1968-1969 (Volume X). 'The Origins of Lichfield, Staffs' by C.C. Taylor, pages 43-52.
<3>	SST2660 - Serial: South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society. 1982. South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Transactions 1980-1981 (Volume XXII). 'Medieval Lichfield: A Topographical Review' by S.R> Bassett, pages 93-121.
<4>	SST2956 - Serial: South Staffordshire Archaeological & Historical Society. 1986. South Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Transactions 1984-1985 (Volume XXVI). 'The Topography and Planning of Medieval Lichfield: A Critique' by T. R. Slater (Pages 11-35).
<5>	SST2664 - Article in serial: Dr. Margaret Gelling. 1981. Some Thoughts on Staffordshire Place-Names in North Staffordshire Journal of Field Studies Volume 21 (1981). Page 3.
<6>	SST3602 - Unpublished document: D Horovitz. 2001. Notes on Staffordshire Placenames. Page 200.
<7>	SST3468 - Desk Based Assessment Report: Richard Stone (Marches Archaeology). 1999. 15 Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire: A Report on a Desk Based Assessment. 19C.
<8>	SST3467 - Evaluation Report: R. Stone, J. Wainwright and G. Dawkes (Marches Archaeology). 1999. 15 Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire: Report on an Evaluation Excavation. 19D.
<9>	SST3562 - Evaluation Report: Richard Stone (Marches Archaeology). 1999. The Arts Centre, Bird Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire: Report on an Evaluation Excavation.
<10>	SST3564 - Evaluation Report: Richard Stone (Marches Archaeology). 1999. 17-21 Greenhill, Lichfield, Staffordshire: Report on an Evaluation Excavation.
<11>	SST3702 - Desk Based Assessment Report: CPM. 1999. Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire. An Archaeological Assessment.
<12>	SST3492 - Evaluation Report: Richard Stone (Marches Archaeology). 1999. Land on the Northern Side of Sandford Street, Lichfield: Report on an Evaluation Excavation.
<13>	SST3661 - Excavation Report: K. Nichol & S. Ratkai (Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit). 2002. Archaeological Excavations on the North Side of Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire 2000. Pages 11-13.
<14>	SST3701 - Evaluation Report: Eleanor Ramsey (Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit). 2002. Junction of Sandford Street and Swan Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire: An Archaeological Evaluation 2002. Page 2.
<15>	SST2265 - Serial: University of Keele. 1971. North Staffordshire Journal of Field Studies Volume 11 (1971). 'The Markets of Medieval Staffordshire' by D. M. Palliser & A. C. Pinnock, p50.
<16>	SST3612 - Building Recording Report: Ian Pattison (RCHM). 1996. Darwin House, Beacon Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire: Historic Building Report.
<17>	SST3696 - Scientific/Specialist Report: M. J. Worthington & D. W. H. Miles (English Heritage Centre for Archaeology). 2002. The Tree-ring Dating of Milley's Hospital, Lichfield, Staffordshire.
<18>	SST3677 - Building Recording Report: Nick Joyce. 1998. Preliminary Report On The Original Construction And Historical Development Of Nos. 17-19 21 Greenhill, Lichfield.
<19>	SST3669 - Scientific/Specialist Report: M. J. Worthington & D. W. H. Miles (English Heritage Centre for Archaeology). 2002. The Tree Ring Dating of timbers from the Hospital of St John the Baptist, Lichfield, Staffordshire..
<20>	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.
<21>	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.
<22>	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.
<23>	SST3568 - Desk Based Assessment Report: Nick Tavener (Marches Archaeology). 2000. The Civic Hall, Castle Dyke, Lichfield, Staffordshire: A Report on a Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment.
<24>	SST3565 - Excavation Report: Nick Tavener and Richard Stone (Marches Archaeology). 2001. 9-21 Greenhill, Lichfield, Staffordshire: Assessment Report on the Excavation, Watching Brief and Building Recording.
<25>	SST3052 - Evaluation Report: Alex Jones (Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit). 1990. Lichfield Cathedral Close: Archaeological Evaluation (Stages 1 - 4) 1989 - 1990 Site Narrative.
<26>	SST3566 - Other Report: Nick Tavener (Marches Archaeology). 2001. 15 Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire: Project Proposal for analysis of an Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief.

Related records

03610	Parent of: Lichfield Town Defences (Monument)
05520	Parent of: Possible Town Ditch Remains, Sandford Street, Lichfield (Monument)

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