The Tudor of Lichfield (then known as Lichfield House) was originally built as a private residence in 1510 at the beginning of King Henry VIII's reign when he was married to Catherine of Aragon. The house is such a historic gem that it was built when Lichfield was still a small Cathedral town, before Mary I declared it a City and County in a 1553 charter.

 

The building has witnessed 500 years of English history, including the Dissolution of the Monasteries and how that affected the nearby Lichfield Franciscan Friary, men and women burned at the stake in the market place (including Edward Wightman the last person to be put to death in this manner), sieges at Lichfield during the English Civil War, volunteers marching off to fight in the Crimean War and soldiers from the local barracks journeying to Flanders in 1914 and never returned.

 

The Tudor of Lichfield is a half-timbered structure that has seen several additions added in the later centuries like the rear side of the property, the tiling on the four fireplaces and downstairs oak panelling, but the core of the building remains original with the main oak staircase dating back to the original owner of the house. The house even features a carving dating to the time of Christopher Wren, and a Priest Hole with two crosses carved on it hidden on the top floor. Whoever built this house, did they have the foresight of Henry's breakaway from the Catholic Church happening a mere 36 years later? After all, there had been much talk and heresay of "the King's great matter" (annulment between Henry and Catherine).

 

During the English Civil War, Lichfield was besieged a total of three times. King Charles I rallied his troops at Lichfield as the town was in support of the King and his Royalist Army. The first siege came at Lichfield Cathedral where the Parliamentarians attacked and took the Cathedral by storm. It wasn't long before Prince Rupert and his men fought and pushed the Roundheads back, even damaging the middle spire. However, a third siege commenced by the Parliamentarians until the King was captured and the Royalists in Lichfield surrendered.

 

During this period (1643-1646), Lichfield House was used as a prison first for captured Royalists during the siege of the Cathedral, and then a prison for captured Parliamentarians once the tables had turned, before Royalists were imprisoned here one final time. They were chained and shackled down in the cellars of the house, with some of the ankle chain rings still visible to this day clamped to the walls. There is even an original oak door down in the cellars that bears scratch markings of the soldiers who were imprisoned and stood guard, including the signature of a notable prisoner named John Hampden, who was one of five men (Pym, Haselrigg, Hollis, Strode and Hampden) who defied King Charles I's attempt to raise funds unlawfully by the imposition of 'Ship Money'. Reputedly down in the cellars, it's believed that a subterranean passage runs from here all the way to the Cathedral and was used by soldiers during the English Civil War. The passage has been followed for some distance in recent years, but is too dangerous to pursue any further for now.

 

In the following centuries after this chaos, the Lichfield House has been a private residence, offices of a coal merchant and a milliner's shop. It was requisitioned for the Pay Corps in 1910 and became an antiques shop in 1920. But the house would change one more time in 1936, when a married couple Wilfred and Evelyn Burns-Mace and thier son Jeffrey, purchased the building and converted it into a tea shop, calling it The Tudor Cafe. Wilfred served for the 202nd Overseas (Sportsman's) Battalion CEF in the First World War. During World War 2, the cellars became an air raid shelter and protected 77 people.

 

A major restoration took place in 1975 when it was discovered that the old timber beams which had been ravaged by time, had become dangerously weak to the point it was feared the entire front of the building was going to collapse into the street below. The restoration took numerous months to completed, and was such a success it even earned a European Heritage Award plaque which is proudly placed above the front door. Another major restoration took place in 1980, which saw the transformation of the yard buildings and the old coach house into shops and businesses inspired by the likes of York's Shambles.

 

Today nearly 90 years later, The Tudor Cafe is now called The Tudor of Lichfield and is a restaurant and confectionary shop still owned and managed by the 4th generation of the Burns-Mace family. It is Grade II listed.

While this will be the first ever paranormal investigation at this beautiful building, already there's been reports of paranormal phenomena and resident ghosts that haunt The Tudor of Lichfield.

 

In the Cellars, the disembodied groans and voices of imprisoned soldiers from the English Civil War wail throughout this network of rooms and passages. Historian Lesley Smith visited this place one time and experienced a creepy male voice whisper in her ear down in the cellars, a jumpy encounter she won't forget easily. Staff have also felt cold pockets of air moving around and sensations of being grabbed down here too.

 

In the Tudor Reception Rooms, the presence of a male has been sensed in this area, with even some staff reportedly seeing a male apparition out the corner of their eye while working. Could this be a former owner of the house? A female energy has also been felt throughout the building.

 

Objects have also been said to move on their own, with the sounds of dragging and knocks heard both on the ground floor and the upper floor.

 

During a site recce in the day, we recorded on the ALICE Box "Don't want you", "This", "Minute" which came through one after the other. This is clearly some intelligent response from a spirit, but the question is from who?

 

What other paranormal activity will we experience at this location? Will you see a resident ghost on the night?

DATE: Saturday 20th July 2024

 

TIMES: 8:00pm - Midnight. Arrive at the Tudor Row entrance next to The Tudor of Lichfield at 7:45pm and wait for a member of staff to register and greet you. DO NOT BE LATE!

 

LOCATION: The Tudor of Lichfield, 32 Bore Street, Lichfield WS13 6LL

 

PARKING AT EVENT: Bird Street Car Park, Lombard Car Park and Local Street Parking (parking charges may apply).

 

REMAINING BALANCE: Needs to be paid FOUR WEEKS prior to the event date. Failure to pay your remaining balance before this deadline will result in you forfeiting your places and your places will be sold on.

 

WHAT TO BRING: A torch, a warm coat/jacket, sensible footwear, any equipment you wish to bring along (your responsibility), your positive and open-minded energies.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Bringing alcohol or drugs to this event is strictly prohibited. If anyone arrives at the event under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they will not be allowed to stay for the night and will be asked to leave immediately. No refunds given.