Visit to Cathedral, House and Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum together with Morning Coffee with the Bishop of Lichfield on 22nd June 2017

Join us for a tour of the historic City of Lichfield in the county of , and explore the history of the city from the Norman cathedral to the house of Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin. We have also arranged for our group to have morning coffee (or tea) with the Bishop of Lichfield, Bishop Michael.

Walk through the heart of the city where the streets are still laid out on the 12th century pattern, seeing houses dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th century and crossing the town square where the final execution by burning at the stake in took place.

To make the most of the day we have arranged visits to three venues with lunch taken in a restaurant adjacent to the cathedral:-

Lichfield Cathedral has over 1300 years of history and is the only medieval three-spired cathedral in the UK. The first church probably stood on the site of the present cathedral, and the settlement quickly grew as the ecclesiastical centre of the Kingdom of Mercia

Erasmus Darwin House In 1758 Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin, moved into the Lichfield house which is now a museum. He was” a successful doctor, an accomplished scientist, a noted inventor, a celebrated poet [and] a wonderful family man

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Samuel Johnson was born in Lichfield in 1709 in the house which is now a museum. He left Lichfield in 1737 to find work as a writer in London and published his Dictionary of the English Language in 1755. He returned to Lichfield in 1776 with his friend Boswell to show him "genuine civilised life in an English provincial town". More information is available at

Lunch This will be taken in the Garden Room of the Chapters café adjacent to the cathedral. The price of this is not included. However for those booking this outing a copy of the menu will be provided so that people may select their requirements in advance. The menu ranges from simple snacks to hot meals.

All the venues to be visited lie within 10 minutes easy stroll of each other. Guided tours of each venue will be arranged so that you can learn the history from experts. Your tour guides through Lichfield will be Jenny Dorey, Evelyn and Frank Frost.

Lichfield can easily be reached by car and ample car parking is available close to the venues. A map showing recommended long-stay car parks will be provided prior to the trip.

Lichfield can also be reached by rail with direct services to London and the North. Please note that long- distance services stop at Lichfield Trent Valley which is some distance (1.3 miles) from the city centre. A local train service is available from Lichfield Trent Valley to Lichfield City with two trains per hour and a journey time of three minutes. Buses also run from Lichfield Trent Valley to the bus station opposite Lichfield City train station.

The tour will start in the cathedral close, outside the main entrance to Lichfield Cathedral at 10.45 for 11.00 and end at 16.15 in the main square.

The cost including guided tours of the three venues is £14.00 per person excluding lunch.

Booking for this visit will be open until Monday 24th April 2017.

The maximum group size is 30 so please book early to avoid disappointment.

When booking this tour please provide your contact details (emails preferred) and details of how you will be arriving in Lichfield so we can send an appropriate map. We shall also provide the detailed itinerary and a menu for Chapters cafe.

No refunds will be possible after Monday 22nd May as the guided tours will have to be booked and paid for by this date.

More information on the venues is available at

www.lichfield.gov.uk

www.lichfield-cathedral.org/

www.erasmusdarwin.org

www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk/

Retired Pharmacists’ Group Visit to Lichfield on Thursday 22nd June 2017

Timetable

10.45 Meet outside the main entrance of Lichfield Cathedral.

11.00 Coffee (or tea) with Bishop Michael.

11.45 - 11.50 Walk to Erasmus Darwin’s House.

11.50 - 12.50 Guided tour of Erasmus Darwin’s House.

12.50 -13.50 Lunch at the Chapters Café.

13.50 -14.50 Guided tour of Lichfield Cathedral.

14.50 - 15.00 Walk to Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum.

15.00 -16.15 Guided tour of Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum.

16.15 Visit ends in the main square.

For visitors arriving by train only:

16.15-16.25 Walk to Lichfield City Train Station.

16.32 Train from Lichfield City to Trent Valley Station. BOOKING FORM Visit to the Lichfield Cathedral and museums on Thursday 22nd June 2017

Please reserve for me .... places on this visit. I enclose a cheque payable to The Retired Pharmacists’ Group for £ ...... (at £14.00 per person).

Name: ...... Address...... …………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… Postcode...... Email Address...... (Mobile) phone: ......

Details of those in my party: Name ...... Travelling by Car/Train Name ...... Travelling by Car/Train Name ...... Travelling by Car/Train Name ...... Travelling by Car/Train Name ...... Travelling by Car/Train

Please arrange to be at the main entrance to Lichfield Cathedral by 10.45. A map of the city showing train stations and car parks together with the meeting point and a menu for the Chapters Café will be sent prior to the visit. Please send this form with your cheque to arrive not later than Monday 24th April 2017 to:- Mrs. D. E. Frost, 68, Watling Street, Newtown, Brownhills, Walsall, West Midlands, WS8 6JS. Email: [email protected]

Refunds will not be possible after 22nd May 2017 as the guided tours will have to be booked and paid for by this date.