Secrets of a Medieval Cathedral | Lichfield

In this video, Kevin Hicks explores the medieval Lichfield Cathedral, one of England's most enchanting landmarks. Discover a magnificent architectural wonder that has stood for centuries, and learn some of the fascinating history behind its Gothic spires, stone sculptures and medieval stained glass.
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CREDITS
Opening Aerial video of Lichfield Cathedral ©jLasWilson / Motion Array
Lichfield Cathedral aerial from front: ©David Keith Jones/ Alamy Stock Photo
Lichfield Cathedral aerial from rear: © Cc44332211 / CC BY-SA 4 via Wikimedia Commons
Music: Ready for Church by Claude Signet via Epidemicsound.com
Choir area © Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
High Altar © Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Crossing © jaceksphotos / iStock
Staffordshire Regiment Memorial © Peter Wheeler/Alamy
Lady Chapel © Nick Stafford/Pixabay

[@MrWhippss]

You know it’s going to be a grand day when history squad uploads. Thank you Kevin!

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure 👍🏻

[@ebmus9781]

I've watched many video tours of British churches, but by far this is the best I've ever seen because of the way you share your first-hand experiences. Getting to hear your stories of working with a stone mason and telling your viewers things that only someone with your knowledge and experience would know is wonderful. Thank you Kevin for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us!

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure, thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@daneaxe6465]

Those really old churches/cathedrals are so intriguing to me. First how so many are still standing and the amount of detail built in and added over the years. The church in Florence Italy I toured had a knight from the 1300s buried in it.. That church looked modern compared to Lichfield.

[@davidstrother496]

What a beautiful building. Thanks for sharing, Kevin. While I was stationed in Spangdahlem, Germany from 1978 to 1981 I got to see several castles in Germany, and Roman buildings in Trier. However the only time I was in Britian was passing through enroute to some TDY duty, so never got to spend time seeing the history. Thanks for your passion and great presentation of history. Perhaps someday I will get to go see some of the places you have shown us. Cheers from Texas.

[@thehistorysquad]

I'm toying with the idea of tripping into Europe on our next visit over the pond 👍🏻

[@evan4622]

I went to Lichfield once, I knew there was a cathedral but I was not prepared for the beauty and size of it, I was in awe of the place while walking around reading the plaques and taking in the architecture. I say that having lived in both Bath and Winchester so my cathedral quality bar was already quite high, Lichfield raised it further.

[@thehistorysquad]

Lovely 👍🏻

[@philw8049]

That’s one of the things I miss the most about Germany (lived there for 3 years). I used to go visit the incredibly beautiful churches and castles, I’m from the usa and we just don’t have history like that. Blows me away that they could make things like that with the tools they had available to them.

[@padilla2828]

I love watching the videos like this because Kevin feels like a grandpa full of stories to tell and it’s just so nice to hear them, especially when he’s touring places

[@target7156]

My grandmother lives in Beacon mews just across from the George and Dragon pub just up from the cathedral so this video is great to watch as Lichfield has always played a massive part of my life and my grandmother used to work in the cathedral as well. Medieval history is a massive interest of mine. Ironically Warwick castle is my favourite castle and a very sacred place to me so it’s great to hear your stories and your connections to these places! : ) small world!

[@katthompson3852]

So much English art was destroyed by the Parliamentarians. It is grand to see stuff survive that time. That has got to be the best cathedral in England because it gives as a glimpse of what the other destroyed one's may have been like. Awesome Kevin. Thanks.

[@thehistorysquad]

We're planning our next visit to the UK and hope to seek out some more amazing places and share their stories and history. 👍🏻

[@katthompson3852]

Wow... can't wait and planning is exciting ... have fun 🙂

[@georgeroberts-morehen9147]

​@@thehistorysquadOHH r u K? GOOD. CAN you fit a special in on the Antonine & Hadrian's Walls?

[@thehistorysquad]

It's one of the many places we're considering so we'll see. Thanks. @@georgeroberts-morehen9147

[@mickusable]

What a stunning building Kevin, love to see old churches, abbeys and the like, shows how well they were built to last so long 🤘🏹

[@lucdrouin4653]

When I toured Britain, 35 years ago, after touring France and Germany the previous year, I never failed to be impressed by the shear comparative beauty of British cathedrals, so original and so different from the continental ones. Your video is a reminder of that beauty. It is also a reminder that war and fanaticism are destroyers of beauty. Thank you Kevin!

[@majorlan5656]

La façade de la Cathédrale de Lichfield ! Ab-so-lu-te-ly wonderful ! 😀😀There is something special about stained glass... So medieval ! And the old army flags ! Nice !

[@OLDMANWAFFLES]

Absolutely well researched channel and videos always, and we all appreciate you Kevin. History deserves to be remembered!

[@ianh452]

Living in Lichfield and going past the cathedral hundreds of times it was interesting to see bits I have missed.

[@birdlawyer4885]

Always enjoyed cathedrals, love how they look when they are built.

[@Allure1337]

So many generations, so many different fates and lifes experiencing this church throughout history truly puts things into perspective. Great video as always, thank you Kevin!

[@stephanmenzel9457]

Dear Kevin, I'm always enjoying your channel, but this video is the best about the unblievable skills in craftmanship of our ancestors. Thanks a million and best regards from Germany ❤

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks 👍🏻

[@ozzydewolfe8956]

Been there today absolutely stunning

[@JStrawmyre]

Taking a tour with Kevin on a cloudy Friday is always something to look forward to

[@thehistorysquad]

What did you think of the place?

[@JStrawmyre]

I was actually very interested in the amount of statues and faces, and the fact that you yourself got to work on it and learn some of the secrets that only the workers would know and it wouldn’t be far-fetched, if it really is a broom handle with some plaster over it things like that happen on the fly. You did a great job Kevin.

[@JStrawmyre]

If anything, I would only like to know more about the statues, the people who made them, and who they were dedicated too.

[@thehistorysquad]

@@JStrawmyre Cheers John 👍🏻

[@lisabaccich9270]

I’m American, and I lived in the UK for a semester during an abroad program. The school is now known as the University of Gloucester. I’ve also lived in Germany during my ex-husband’s tour. We saw a good bit of Europe. My favorite, hands down, is the UK! I recently found out I have Scottish heritage. I was over the moon! (Most of my heritage is German and Dutch.). As a student of both history and the law, I have always appreciated the UK. I hope to make it back one day. In the meantime, thank you for bringing my favorite country to me here at home in the US as I watch your lovely retelling of history!

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure Lisa 👍🏻

[@lukealexander6680]

My dad went to school in Lichfield and we visited the cathedral there about 10 years ago, it really is a beautiful building. Sadly when we went they were doing restoration work on some of the stained glass windows so we couldn't see it in its full glory. Hoping to go back there soon

[@neilcook4686]

I've been to Lichfield so many times (I only live about 10 miles away), & I can't believe I've never visited the Cathedral. It's on my list now 😊 Cheers - great video

[@thehistorysquad]

That's crazy! 👍🏻

[@neilcook4686]

@@thehistorysquad I know :/

[@JoanZee]

There’s not a single video you upload I do not enjoy. Thank you for the education and entertainment you provide in these weekly. Will always be a fan Kevin!

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, thanks 👍🏻

[@blackmagicvoodoobox8779]

The only channel on KZbin that gets an insta-like. Content's always quality.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers!!

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

Another great example of why your channel is one of the best! I have a KZbin video to check out ( spit fire, lake Champlain maritime museum) it’s on the last unaccounted for gun boats of B Arnold. They do a deep water dive on it and it’s amazing to see it sitting on the bottom of the lake! Different shot still in trays by the guns.

[@WTFisTingispingis]

I would LOVE to have had you as a history teacher, your work is always interesting and informative.

[@terri200]

This was iconic!! But I bet that there is so much more to discover and learn from this place. It truly saddens me that so much history gets destroyed and lost over mans power struggles. We can only hope for a better future. Thank you so very much for sharing all of this. You tell the history with so much love and respect!🙏💖🪶💯💯👏👏

[@allisonj7197]

Thank you Sir for sharing yet another nugget of history! Much love.

[@connor7o7]

Kev you are such a joy to watch! These castle/cathedral tours are some of my favorites. You just ooze excitement when you’re walking around them! They need to get this man to make films for schools! Awesome way to learn history. Thanks for making such awesome content for us. When I do my trip to the uk do you have any must see historical places like these that I should go see? The fact that they had this level of craftsmanship that long ago blows my mind

[@thehistorysquad]

I guess it would depend on which part of the country you're planning on staying as there are some fabulous castles in Wales, and cathedrals all over. If you're visiting London, the Tower of London is a 'must do' 👍🏻

[@ORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR13]

There's no ending in historical places to visit in the UK they are freaking everywhere..

[@tonystrange7224]

Thanks Kevin, never visited Lichfield Cathedral. But having watched this, definitely going on my list to visit.

[@jonathanhicks4735]

Hello Kevin Hicks - I'm Jonathan Hicks, also born and raised in Lichfield and the Cathedral is my favourite building in the world. I live in Northamptonshire now, so it was a pleasure to be shown around the Cathedral by another Hicks! Great video, all my very best!

[@thehistorysquad]

Very cool! Thanks Jonathan 👍🏻

[@calicoasting]

Your castle and cathedral tours are great ! I feel as if I was with you and wanted to ask you questions, hehePlease on your travels do as many as possible Thank you for your time and effort.

[@lindseybeech9971]

Hi Kevin on the 10th of June I broke 2 ribs and ripped my chest /back muscle ,watching your videos as got me through some painful days and nights .They are absolutely brilliant and I look forward to every new one! I'm still in mild pain and sleeping upright,but your uploads have made it bearable .Thank you xx

[@thehistorysquad]

How lovely, thank you too. I hope you continue your recovery and become pain-free soon 👍🏻

[@totaltouring829]

I’ve lived here for years. Quite intrigued by your history. It’s currently under renovation at the moment and I wondered what secrets they’d discover while all the scaffolding is up. I was at Tewksbury Abbey recently which is a place full of historic stories too. Brilliant vlog as usual. Thanks

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks 👍🏻. We were lucky then that we missed all that scaffolding as we shot this back in April.

[@Convoycrazy]

Stunning to see all of that stonework carved and laid by hand - thanks for showing us yanks what true craftsmanship looks like! A beautiful building.

[@KaterinaDeAnnika]

So happy to be a new subscriber and able to watch this in the first few hours of it being posted. Although it says posted 5 hours ago but i only got a notification 37 minutes ago? Weirddddd. Anyway. I love your presentation style, and the variety of historical lessons you get to present to us in the actual locations. I am so grateful I get to experience these while they’re happening. Brings me back to my childhood at my gmas where she had cable and I got to see actual history channel from the 90s!

[@thehistorysquad]

Haha, welcome and thanks for watching. Yes, the YT notifications are somewhat of an enigma, so if you don't get one for a while, you might want to check back as we do try to upload every week if we can. 👍🏻

[@christineingram55]

I used to live on the Lichfield Rd in Walsall Wood many years ago,I used to love going to Lichfield .Your tour was great but does not really show how huge this beautiful Cathedral is ,and although the windows looked great ,in real they are amazing.It’s one of my favourite Cathedrals I have seen,it has that wonderful air of peace and tranquility.I used to love visiting it just for that alone.I think all the information is beautifully laid out and easily accessible ,and it’s well worth a visit just to see all the wonderful carving.It’s certainly a highlight in Lichfield.But there are also so many really old buildings there too look at that date back a long time.There are even some very old shops in the shopping center too.I love this place and miss it now I have moved and no longer drive.🥰

[@Lord_Shmesh_The_Squishy]

oooh more secret time with Kevin! I can't wait! ♥

[@thehistorysquad]

😂

[@Lord_Shmesh_The_Squishy]

​@@thehistorysquad I absolutely love it when you explore and show us stuff like this! Though, I love just about all you do. You're an amazing person Kevin, thank you for giving me a reason to smile today. ♥

[@thehistorysquad]

@@Lord_Shmesh_The_Squishy You're very kind, thanks 👍🏻

[@evilladollyz7602]

Oh that's just beautiful. I would love nothing more but than to visit that church!!!❤❤❤

[@lauralaladarling3775]

Magnificent video Kevin. You are not only full of historical facts, scandals, architecture and battles, a few examples of your expertise, but also full of surprises! How exciting to have been an apprentice stonemason who actually worked with master stonemasons who restored Lichfield Cathedral. Thank you for showing us the secrets of the Cathedral and the Parliamentary wars that took place in the 1600's. ❤❤❤

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure 👍🏻

[@HarryWHill-GA]

Thank you Kevin. A marvelous tour. I imagine that the sieges of the cathedral were all close run things.

[@mmcleod8148]

I’d like you to have a lesson on Lindisfarne or other cathedrals some day. You share so many interesting facts. I look forward to your videos. Please keep them coming.

[@thehistorysquad]

Absolutely, I’ve been preparing some Viking models just for that purpose. 😀

[@loislewis5229]

What a wonderful place to live and be so connected to history.

[@passionforlust]

Always amazed by the architecture of these incredible buildings, thanks to my Norman ancestors for creating these works of art. Great video Kevin cheers!

[@hillerymcdonald2303]

Best tour guide and teacher on KZbin!!! Thank you Mr. Hicks, you're THE BEST and your work is incredible.

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, thanks!

[@british.scorpion]

Thank you for showing the Cathedral in such detail, from a fellow Lichfieldian.👍

[@user-yu6pe7ik8r]

What a precious gem this Lichfield Cathedral is! Thanks for the tour Kevin, as always it was a pleasure listening to you!

[@thehistorysquad]

I think so too, many thanks!

[@lizchatfield692]

Thank you a million . for some New Zealander this is gold as it is our history as well as yours ,our Chatfields are traced back to the 1400 so they may have known about this so thank you.

[@jadesmith6823]

Love this show... An Australian looking back at his heritage 🇦🇺❤️

[@dmcarpenter2470]

Kevin: Wonderful vid. I loved the camera work, and the stories. Best of all is I can here the sheer pride and joy you are experiencing, showing and telling us of this place, and its history. Thank you.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks Dave 👍

[@nancyhammons3594]

Kevin, thank you for sharing your experience with us and that wonderful Cathedral, it's just magnificent and I love all the little heads watching.

[@thehistorysquad]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Always happy to find a new video from your channel. What a stunning cathedral! Such a complex structure created so long ago speaks volumes about human ingenuity and creativity. It’s always been a favorite of mine because of the statues and little faces. There’s a wonderful air of whimsy to it. I’ve only seen photos in books and never seen it person…maybe in my next life. To see this video, what a special treat…made my day, I found the standards very moving…so much loss of life, so much suffering, so much courage.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks Sharon, glad you enjoyed the tour, it really is an amazing place. 👍🏻

[@charliekezza]

It's so beautiful and has so many uses😮 I'm an Aussie and we've never had a civil war so our churches are just churches some in the big cities are really beautiful too but they just don't have the same history or pure grandeur because of the history and skill that was put in to create these amazingly complicated things for love of a higher power. (I like churches and the like and castlesp )

[@lainydepp]

Wow, what a beautiful building. Very interesting video. I love the fact you show details close up. Brilliant 😊❤

[@mindmedic9435]

That is an amazingly beautiful cathedral. And your presentation is outstanding... as usual.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thank you very much!

[@MIKE_THE_BRUMMIE]

The beautiful Lichfield cathedral. I have a lovley view of the cathedral from my flat, as well as the hills of Cannock chase. That along with the sunsets were a major selling point for me.

[@thehistorysquad]

Nice 👍🏻

[@jamesmccarthy5086]

It’s always been a dream of mine to visit a cathedral. Thank you so much. If I ever go to Europe I would visit cathedrals. I love looking at them picturewise. Amiens seems the most beautiful to me. I couldn’t imagine building this nor doing what you did. I’m afraid of heights and I’d be shaking. This is a beautiful church. I hope to visit this one day. I’d be there for hours. Is this a catholic cathedral as well?Thank you so much for this!

[@Raycheetah]

There is a great video, "PBS - Cathedral - David Macaulay," which is a fictionalized account of the construction of a medieval cathedral. It is based on David Macaulay's book (as are the other videos in the series), and it humanizes the builders and others involved in or affected by the decades-long project. As I recall, Amiens gets a mention as an historical example for Macaulay's hypothetical cathedral. =^[.]^=

[@PhinAI]

A major highlight of all of my travels across the Globe have been the cathedrals and churches I've visited in various nations. There, you find some of the very best preserved artifacts, and in some cases, even current congregations and clergy. Very highly recommended!

[@jamesmccarthy5086]

@@PhinAI I want to one day. I heard a cathedral somewhere has the oldest clock still working. I certainly hope to do so one day

[@jamesmccarthy5086]

@@Raycheetah I will certainly check it out. Thank you!

[@thehistorysquad]

Lichfield is an Anglican cathedral 👍🏻

[@ninacurry8799]

Wonderful tour! Made special, by your history, with this magnificent structure!

[@jhm1996]

A new historysquad film always makes my day

[@Raatcharch]

That is a beautiful cathedral, thank you very much for sharing it with us!

[@seanmorrissey8412]

Always a pleasure to watch one of my history channels ever

[@davesheppard8797]

Another great video Kev and what a beautiful Cathedral!! Could any of the heads be of the monied people who paid for the works? The standard of the work by the masons is quite incredible. The character in the faces is amazing!! Well done again Kev!! Plus....Editing now....My Father's Grandfather was a Banker Mason and towards the end of his career carved many Gargoyles for buildings similar to this. I remember my Father told me he did a lot of the stone carving on one of the many restorations of Bath Abbey. My Father's family was from Wiltshire. Dave.

[@thehistorysquad]

Ooh, interesting. My father's family originate from Calne 👍🏻

[@jennl7099]

I love your channel & your Canadian Legion Veteran cap! My grandpa was a ww2 vet. Keep up the great historical stories! I like your personal stories!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks, will do 👍🏻

[@puddysue]

What a fascinating and gorgeous cathedral! Thank you, Kevin!

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure!

[@rosemaryus-ct6151]

i loved our little visit. it would be awesome to see the cathedral in the flesh, so to speak. it's also awesome to have a willing teacher on hand. thank you for that.

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure 👍🏻

[@annabellelee180]

The detailed work on this place is incredible. Thank you for taking us on a tour.

[@thehistorysquad]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@asrigascanbe]

These tour videos are your best ones, love them

[@RPMZ11]

Brilliant work. Bringing back great memories of times spent in Litchfield. 🍻

[@BUZZKILLJRJR]

Wealth of knowledge absolutely awesome! Thank you again Kevin!

[@vickywitton1008]

I LOVE this one , as I live just down the road in Rugele y and have been to Lichfield many, many times and looked at and been in the cathedral.

[@MegaSuperpotter]

Thanks again Kevin ,that was a wonderful tour. Here's to you doing many more in England.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers 👍🏻

[@michaelpage4199]

This was just amazing. Truly amazing. Just beautiful thanks Kevin for sharing

[@georgebear4557]

Dear Kevin. You missed one of the most important facts. The whole structure is built on the skew. They ran out of foundation bedrock and had to botch it up. They brought in a top Mason from France, I think. He did a fantastic job of making the building fit the foundation they had. But if you stand at the end, you can see the problem they had to rectify. Love your videos. Top work again with this one. Lots of love, George Bear. x

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks for the info, cheers George 👍🏻

[@BoerChris]

Thanks for a fascinating tour, Kevin.

[@pattimullins9179]

Thank you, sir! I truly respect and appreciate your knowledge

[@zoirosmusic8513]

It's so interesting to learn about this fortress hope more of this videos are coming

[@longcastle4863]

This was such a lovely tour. Thank you.

[@Chosies1]

What a beautiful building! Stunning ❤

[@jasondelk7042]

This has become my new history channel. This guy should be getting paid, and a lot.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks & welcome 👍🏻

[@WVgirl1959]

Thank you ❤ from the US/Cross Lanes,West Virginia

[@abbotsholme660]

Great video, thank you for producing all of them

[@tonymeads4693]

FANTASTIC video ! Thanks, Kevin.

[@projectinlinesix]

Thank you, Kevin! Excellent video!

[@Travelin2Wit]

Thankyou, Great presentation! youe personal style realy makes it enjoyable to watch !

[@smd1uk]

Another excellent video Kevin, thanks.

[@A.Hutler]

I've never visited Britain, unfortunately, but hope to one day. However, I stumbled upon Église Saint-Sulpice in Paris, France and was so impressed I began visiting every church and cathedral I came across in France and Germany. Saint Sulpice has a memorial for all of the men of the parish killed in The Great War and it is humbling, there are so many names. What magnificent wonders these places are! I could sit in any of them for many hours of quiet meditation, especially if there is a fellow playing the pipe organ. The organist at Saint-Severin was le plus magnifique. The dark gothic stone and timber framing of the cathedral of Nuremberg was quite impressive as well. Lichfield is now on my list. Thank you for all of your wonderful videos.

[@balke7935]

What a treat this was for me being a local. It’s well worth a visit, the surrounding streets still retain a lot of their old magic, there’s also the history of Samuel Johnson and the Darwin’s for you to investigate.

[@MrBanzoid]

Great video Kevin. Thanks very much.

[@grantpavitt3198]

Great video Kevin thank you for sharing 😊

[@HanoiHustler]

What a amazing building!! Thank you so much!! love it!❤

[@hashimkhan7940]

brilliant, really enjoyed this

[@martinc9215]

Another delightful video. And beautifully filmed. Cheers ❤

[@nickwebb9290]

That was wonderful Kevin, a real eye opener of this beautiful Cathedral

[@hemaccabe4292]

Great video! Thanks!

[@josephinequinn8782]

Lovely educational video. Thank you🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@peterrussell9231]

Thank you always great videos

[@TheVuduYuDu]

Absolutely enjoy your content.

[@latvianson7980]

Fantastic video, thank you.

[@opheliaenriquez9956]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing all this information .

[@bodamian_bg]

Thanx a thousand for the wonderful video, dear Sir!

[@BrunoDeMarques]

Love it. Awesome job! Take care

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks! You too!