On Thursday we decided to visit the city of Lichfield. It's only about thirty miles away and we hadn't been for a while. The sun was shining and there was an exhibition we wanted to see. What better excuse for a little excursion?
We walked up to the Garrick Theatre for coffee first, passing the birthplace of Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) on the way. This building, which stands at the top of the Market Place, is now a museum and book shop. In the market square there of statues of both Dr Johnson and his friend and biographer James Boswell. I did take photos of both but they weren't so good against such a bright background.
We had a look around a few of the market stalls mostly tasty looking artisan foods, herbs and garden plants and then had a mooch around a few antique shops.
Then we wandered up to the Cathedral
The three spires can be seen from quite a distance.
A view of the front of the Cathedral from the Cathedral Close.
Inside it was quiet and peaceful.
This was the exhibition we wanted to see. It is an exhibition which, according to the 'blurb', explores the themes of war and peace through art and history.
It is a very interesting and moving exhibition which reflects on the consequences and effects of WWI on both a national and local level. It covers the immediate aftermath of the conflict and the subsequent but not always achieved quest for peace over the hundred years from 1918 until this year as we mark the ending of the war.
In the Chapter House are works by well known post war artists, including Henry Moore, Paul Nash, Graham Sutherland, Jacob Epstein and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska as well as new pieces by Peter Walker the Cathedral's artist in residence.
I didn't take any photos in the art exhibition as I wasn't sure of copyright and also it seemed intrusive at this point of the exhibition.
The exhibit above is by Peter Walker and is called Yarn Front. The suspended red wool and knitting needles represents the consequences of war on domestic life.
Another section of the exhibition was the 1918 sitting room where people were invited to sit and write a letter real or imaginary to a loved one at the front or in a war zone or to knit a square with which to 'make do and mend'.
By the time we'd finished reading the information panels and looked at the whole of the exhibition there were quite a few more people visiting the Cathedral so most of the photos I took are of the upper regions of the building.
A view of the east window
A view of the nave
A view of the Cathedral from a window of Erasmus Darwin's house looking out of an upstairs window at the back across the herb garden. I'll write more on this in a later post.
Here are more details about the exhibition which continues until 24th June 2018
I can see the appeal of the exhibit. The cathedral is amazing!
ReplyDeleteThank you William, it is a beautiful Cathedral:)
DeleteI really like Lichfield and loved this post. Super photos Rosie and thanks so much for letting me know there is an exhibition in the cathedral - it sounds and looks very good. I keep saying I will return there as we went on a Sunday when there were services and I only had half an hour to have a very brief look round and the Chapter House was closed. Have been back twice but once was again on a Sunday and the second time my daughter wanted to look round the shops though we did visit the Dr Samuel Johnson museum.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the next post :) Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Thank you RR, hope you are having a lovely BH weekend. The exhibition was quite moving, lots of people there though including a bus load of ladies from Sheffield. We had to wait to get in as there was a funeral service - a civic digniatary - acording to the man in the Cathedral shop so we went to Darwins house for a while:)
DeleteWhat an interesting sounding exhibit.
ReplyDeleteIt was Janet, thank you for visiting:)
DeleteI’ve never been to Lichfield. Another fascinating place to add to my list. B x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Barbara so much history in Lichfield, I'm sure you would like it there:)
DeleteSuch an exhibition helps people remember the terrible consequences of war. I'm afraid the human race is all too forgetful. The cathedral is beautiful and sounds like an interesting place to explore.
ReplyDeleteThe cathedral is a lovely building and a fitting place for the exhibition which was very moving:)
DeleteBeautiful areas... I especially love the (is it?) timbered buildings. They seem as if they are so old, they might simply collapse. :-) But of course not.
ReplyDeleteMagnificent Cathedral, inside and out.
Interesting exhibit... Mankind never seems to learn though... -sigh-
Yes, they are timbered buildings, quite a few of them too behind Georgian fascades. The cathedral is a wonderful bulding:)
DeleteSounds like an amazing exhibition and in such a beautiful setting.
ReplyDeleteThank you, it was an interesting and moving exhibition just right for the venue:)
DeleteWhat a lovely day for your trip. One day we'll get to Lichfield but in the meantime, I've soaked up the atmosphere from your interesting post. 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen, glad you enjoy the post, hope you get to visit one day soon:)
DeleteNow there's a place I've never been. And by the look of your photos it's one I would enjoy; it's certainly a lovely cathedral.
ReplyDeleteThanks, John. It is a lovely cathedral and like Ely has more of a town than city feel with lots of history too:)
DeleteThanks for taking on such a lovely informative trip. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan, glad you could come along:)
DeleteThe cathedral looks really impressive! The 1918 sitting room looks interesting. I wonder how many people take up the offer to sit and write a letter or knit a square? x
ReplyDeleteThank you Simone, I wondered that too! There seemed to be too many people to linger very long, perhaps in the evening people wander along and write a note or go home and knit a square and bring it back:)
DeleteThe cathedral spires must be quite a landmark. They are certainly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe exhibit sounds like a very good one. We are in danger of losing sight of the consequence of war as those with living memory pass away.
Thank you, yes you can see the three spires as you are driving towards the city. It was a very thought provoking exhibition:)
DeleteHow wonderful the Cathedral looks , looks like you had a lovey time.
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
It was a lovely day, good to be somewhere a bit different:)
DeleteI'm planning to go to this exhibition Rosie so thanks for the preview, it's very useful. I love Lichfield, it's such a pretty town - I know it's really a city but as you said to John, it feels more like a town - especially in the sunshine. I went to the Cathedral twice over Easter, most memorably at 5am on Easter Sunday, it's so awesome (in the proper sense of the word)that I don't think I could ever tire of it. x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mrs T. Both cathedral and town are wonderful aren't they? There was a lot of things I didn't photograph, the memorials, medals and private things when it seemed innapropriate to do anything other than look and read. You will see what I mean, it is a very moving exhibition:)
DeleteHi Rosie! I tried to send you an email but it came back unsent because it said the address couldn't be found, or is unable to receive email. Thought I should let you know. x
ReplyDeleteOh dear, thanks for letting me know Simone. Will try to work out what is wrong. I've had a few problems with e-mail over the last few months:)
DeleteThis is such a beautiful cathedral and the exhibition sounds interesting. Marie x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marie - yes it was a fascinating exhibition:)
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