By Tim Lambert
669 The Bishop of Mercia makes his seat at Lichfield
12th Century The Bishop of Chester founds a new town at Lichfield
1237 Franciscan friars arrive in Lichfield
1291 Lichfield is badly damaged by a fire but it is rebuilt. Lichfield is a small town with a population of about 1,500.
1424 Milleys Hospital is built at Lichfield
1538 Henry VIII closes the friary
1548 Lichfield is given a corporation and a mayor
1593 Plague strikes Lichfield
1612 A heretic is burned at Lichfield, the last burning of a heretic in England
1643 At the beginning of the year a royalist army captures Lichfield. However, in March a parliamentary army drives them out. The royalists then capture Lichfield again.
1646 The Parliamentarians capture Lichfield once again.
1687 A new Bishop’s Palace is built
1690 Thatched roofs are banned in Lichfield
1700 The population of Lichfield is about 3,000
1797 A canal is built to Lichfield
1801 Lichfield has a population of 4,842
1806 A body of men is formed with powers to pave, clean, and light the streets of Lichfield
1833 A gas works opens in Lichfield
1859 A public library and museum opens
1901 Lichfield has a population of 7,900
1933 Victoria Hospital is built
1960 Western Relief Road is built
1971 Eastern by-pass is built
1996 Spires Shopping Centre is built
