Cathedral set for big revamp

Lichfield Cathedral is to be restored in an ambitious multi-million pound project aimed at strengthening its position as one of England's greatest.

Church leaders today announced they have appointed Birmingham-based architects Kinetic-AIU Ltd to restore the cathedral as well as revealing there will be new jobs, and a new learning centre in Cathedral Close.

The diocese is also proposing to restore the historic lime avenue leading into the Cathedral Close, and has announced the cathedral will feature on a new Royal Mail first class stamp due out in May.

Architects from Kinetic-AIU will be drawing up plans for an improved visitor experience at the cathedral.

A discovery zone between the existing restaurant and visitors' centre is on the cards, to bring together the cathedral's trading and catering activities, and the cathedral shops will be transferred to this area as well.

The diocese has also purchased a property on Cathedral Close to house the new learning centre developing the cathedral's post-graduate facilities.

As part of the development plans the cathedral is creating a number of new posts and increasing the total number of staff by six and introducing a seven-day week operation to visitors.

The project is estimated to cost between £8.5 million and £10 million.

However there are currently no plans to clean the blackened building for fear of damaging the sandstone.

Cathedral Close is home to the second-oldest avenue of lime trees in England. The Dean's Walk dates back to 1703 and is pre-dated only by the lime avenue in Windsor St Paul.

The lane was a favourite walking place for Dr Samuel Johnson but the trees are almost at the end of their life and the Cathedral is working with Lichfield District Council to find ways of replacing them with new lime trees.

Lichfield Cathedral will take prime position, next May, on a new series of Royal Mail stamps featuring great cathedrals across the UK. Lichfield has been chosen for the first class stamp.