Interactive Map of Lichfield Cathedral Close

Click on each area to learn more about the beautiful green spaces around The Close.

The Herb Garden, behind the Erasmus Darwin Museum, is maintained by a team of volunteers to represent different practical uses for plants: culinary, medicinal, apothecary and dyer.

his sunken garden retains the ruins of the medieval walls that once surrounded the Cathedral and formed part of the south-east gate to the Cathedral Close. The area which is now a rockery appears to be the footing of a turret which was integral to the gateway and there is evidence of an entrance to a pit or tunnel within the turret.The planting scheme of the garden represents a cottage garden using mainly native English plants.

St Mary's Corner

Primroses flourish in the footings of the medieval walls in Spring.

Remnants of the medieval walls can be found around The Close.

The plants growing in this garden remind us of the two patrons of this ancient Cathedral: St Mary, Mother of Jesus, and St Chad, first Bishop of Lichfield.

The Garden ofSt Mary & St Chad

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St Chad was Bishop in the 7th century. After he died in 672, his shrine was visited by thousands of pilgrims seeking blessing and healing of mind and body. Many of the herbal plants growing in this garden have healing properties.

St Mary is represented by flowers whose stories were used to celebrate her virtues and attributes, such as ‘Marigold’ and ‘Lady’s Mantle’. Growing these plants today links us with the medieval inhabitants of Lichfield, who saw religious significance in the natural world around them.

There has been a water conduit on this site since the 12th century but the pump you see today dates from 1786. A conduit to bring fresh water to the Cathedral Close was first established around 1140-1147. In 1259 the supply was improved, and it was used continuously by residents of the Close for the next five hundred years.In 1876 it was agreed that the Close should be connected to the town supply but many residents continued to use it until 1969.

The Conduit Head & Pump

The Conduit Head can still be found when walking near Maple Hayes.

The water supply was used by residents in the Close until 1969.

West Front showing the pump and handle circa 1858.

This shaded avenue is lined with lime trees, originally planted by Dean William Bincks in the 18th century.Running along the north and east sides of the Close, the path passes in front of the Deanery and the old Bishop’s Palace. The area is now managed to encourage wildlife and native wild flowers, with seating which provides a quiet space for visitors.

The Dean's Walk

Hedges of Hawthorn, Rowan, Holly, Hazel and Yew were planted with the help of pupils from Lichfield Cathedral School to encourage biodiversity.

Lime leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of many moth and butterfly species.

Attractive to aphids, lime trees provide a food source for hoverflies, ladybirds and birds.

Recent works have seen a new pathway installed to help visitors access and enjoy this historic walk.

In the 18th century it was a favourite area for many of Lichfield’s literary circle. In 1776, at the instigation of Anna Seward and Humphrey Repton some of the trees on the east side were removed to open up the view to the Cathedral from Stowe Pool.The stone cross near the north-east corner of The Dean’s Walk was first built on the West Front by Bishop Maclagan (circa. 1890). It was relocated to this position in the early 20th century.

The Dean's Walk

An east view of Lichfield Cathedral taken from Stowe Pool from 1745.

Anna Seward (1742-1809), who resided at the Bishop’s Palace, was an acclaimed poet and literary critic.

Picture from circa 1890 with the then new stone cross visible on the West Front Lawns.

From the early 14th century Vicars’ Close provided accommodation for the vicars choral who sang the services in the Cathedral. It now has rented houses for a variety of tenants.The garden is now looked after by the residents who use the area as a social setting. Consequently the original idea of people living in individual homes but with some communal activity continues to this day.

Vicar's Close Garden

This small garden at the entrance to The Close is on the site of two former dwellings of Newton’s College. The College was built in 1800-1802 to provide accommodation for widows and orphans of clergymen. Funding was provided by Andrew Newton (1728-1806), a Lichfeldian philanthropist.The garden is now tended by volunteer gardeners to create a seasonal domestic garden together with other plants chosen to promote a rich biodiversity.

Newton's Garden

The Lichfield Angel Rose bred by David Austin to mark the discovery of The Lichfield Angel in 2003.

This area of grasses and wildflowers is being left to grow and flower throughout the spring.The flowering plants will provide foodfor insects such as butterflies, bees and grasshoppers which in turn will help birds and mammals around the Cathedral.

Seasonal Meadow