Join Johnson's 308th Birthday Party
Published: 11 September 2017
The Samuel Johnson
Birthplace Museum is celebrating the birthday of Lichfield’s
most famous son with a free slice of cake for all visitors and activities throughout
the day on Saturday 23rd September as part of Lichfield’s city-wide Heritage
Weekend.
The Museum on Breadmarket Street will be open from
10.30am – 4.30pm and admission, as always, is free of charge. The beautiful
historic house will be decorated by Flower Design of Lichfield and a slice of
Birthday cake supplied by local bakery Hindleys will be available for all
visitors, while stocks last! Everyone is invited to ensemble on the Market
Square for 12 noon when the civic party and Johnson Society members will gather
to watch the Mayor lay a wreath on the statue of Johnson, accompanied by
traditional hymns from St Michael’s Choir. The ceremony will be followed by an
afternoon of entertainment on the Market Square including performances from Intimate
Theatre at 12.45pm, the City of Lichfield Concert Band, the annual Young Town Crier Competition and
more.
This year the Birthplace will also be
celebrating the birthday of Johnson’s great friend David Garrick, who was born
300 years ago and grew up in Lichfield Cathedral close. Visitors to the Museum
can enjoy a great Garrick dressing-up box, complete with stage to perform and
hands-on costume activities. Elsewhere in the city, the Old Prison Cells at
Lichfield Guildhall will be open on Saturday 10am – 4pm and Sunday 24th
11am – 3pm. Look out for the ‘Black Country Players’ around the streets on
Saturday who will be on the look-out for new recruits to join their regiment!
The Johnson Society will also be marking
Johnson’s Birthday with their traditional supper at Lichfield Guildhall on the
Saturday evening. Current President, bestselling author Margaret Drabble, will hand over her badge to the President
elect Michael Bundock. Bundock is the author of ‘the Fortunes of Francis Barber’, a fascinating
account of Johnson’s manservant, the freed slave who became the wordsmith’s
heir.
For more information please call 01543 264 972,
visit the Museum website at www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk or
email sjmuseum@lichfield.gov.uk