In our continuing spirit of enquiry, some of our Grumpy Old Men recently set off for Lichfield, which one of our number is familiar with from his working life.
We started off with coffee in a very convenient cafe next to the Cathedral, then we had a self-guided tour around the Cathedral itself, a gothic masterpiece which dates back to the 13th century. Lichfield changed sides twice during the English Civil War, with consequent damage to the building.
The Cathedral subsequently underwent significant restoration by Sir Gilbert Scott in the 19th Century. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires and is the only cathedral in the UK to have been fortified with walls and a moat, traces of which remain in the surrounding landscape today.
We then set out on a walk around the centre of the town to see more historic sights, plus the local Wetherspoons for lunch.