St Mary’s Hidden Photographic Gems

When I signed up for tickets to “St Mary’s Hidden Photographic Gems” I expected to be entertained with photos of Lichfield’s past. Well, I was, but in the event got very much more. Our guide, Jonathan Oates, familiarly known as Jono, especially in the bars of licensed premises, apparently, of which Lichfield boasts not a few; showed us not only some wonderful evocative pictures of Lichfield in the first half of the last century, but regaled us with anecdotes relating to their owners and inhabitants.

One such photograph of an early department store, or emporium, which name sounds to me far more in
teresting, included the sad story of the owner who reversed the usual trend and went from riches to rags, disappearing from Lichfield and ending his days in poverty “up North”. Another anecdote, well illustrated with photos, concerned the move of the clock tower from its original site to the Bowling Green roundabout. This move was totally organised and funded by Sir Richard Cooper, who had to overcome fierce resistance from Lichfield Council, whose preferred option was demolition. No Comment.

The gradual change in the architectural landscape of Lichfield, sometimes for the better, sometimes less
so, was beautifully illustrated and delivered with an impressive knowledge of Lichfield’s history.
Quite fascinating!

Richard Newby