Lichfield City’s tourist attractions threw open their doors to visitors for free, as part of Lichfield’s Olympic and Paralympic themed Heritage Weekend.
From Erasmus Darwin House and Lichfield Guildhall’s prison cells, to Dr Milley’s Hospital and Lichfield Record Office, visitors enjoyed the chance to see the city’s heritage attractions.
Saturday featured the traditional Samuel Johnson birthday celebrations, including performances by Lichfield Cathedral School Girls’ Choir, King Edward VI school band, and the city’s first ever young town crier competition.
Many venues also offered free activities over the weekend, including a quiz sheet at Lichfield Cathedral, bowls on the master’s lawn at St John’s Hospital, children’s entertainment and activities at Lichfield Heritage Centre, a ‘brilliant balloons’ activity on Saturday at The Samuel Johnson Museum and much more.
The theme of this year’s Heritage Weekend was the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and it featured games and sports from times gone by.
In keeping with the theme, there was a chance to dress up like the ancient Greeks, follow a free family torch hunt, make a bow and arrow, hobby horse making and racing, and free tennis coaching. There were also children’s games and static watt bike racing on Stowe Fields on Saturday.
Councillor Louise Flowith, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Tourism, said: “We’ve had the visitor numbers back from many of the city’s heritage attractions, and they show that they topped last year’s numbers. We’re delighted the rain didn’t deter people from discovering what hidden treasures our city offers, and that so many people enjoyed the entertainment and activities over the two-day event.”
