Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington: Lichfield From Above

Monday 20 April 2009

Lichfield From Above

Time seems to have run away from me last week, but - finally - here are some pictures of our Bank Holiday Monday jaunt up the spire of St Mary's, and the views of Lichfield from above - and very impressive they were too. I'll also be posting something shortly about our afternoon walk in search of Dr Floyer's cold baths, at Abnalls, near Lichfield, so don't go away!

Photographs © Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington.

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2 comments:

Eliza Ward said...: Thanks for the photos! Lichfield is much more modern-looking than I'd imagined. I'd figured there would be more of a mix of Georgian and Victorian architecture, and less open space and 20th-century architecture. It's nice how the more modern buildings are red and blend in with the older ones.; 20 April 2009 at 23:52
Mrs Woffington said...: Hi Eliza, I think it's its proximity to a large city (Birmingham) that has contributed to the modernity; I'm not a great fan of the 1960s shopping centre for instance, but many people use Lichfield as a commuting base for Birmingham, and that has led to quite a bit of development over the years.; 21 April 2009 at 10:09

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Who was Mrs Woffington?

Virtually forgotten today, Margaret Woffington (also known as Peg or Peggy) would rise from humble origins to become one of Georgian London’s most famous actresses, sharing the stage with the likes of David Garrick and excelling in so-called ‘breeches roles’. Born around the year 1720 in Dublin, her childhood years were marred by the death of her father, which plunged her family into poverty. Having reputedly sold watercress barefoot in the streets of the Irish capital, she was soon talent-spotted by a tumbler known as Violante, who staged populist entertainments in booths around the city. Violante had a troupe of child actors called the Liliputians, and before long Woffington was making her debut as Polly Peachum in their version of The Beggar’s Opera. Moving to London, she gained plaudits for both her outstanding beauty and her talent – particularly in comedy – appearing at both Covent Garden and Drury Lane. Known for her quick wit and no-nonsense attitude, she had high-profile affairs with Garrick, Lord Darnley and Charles Hanbury Williams; she was also a generous benefactor, supporting her elderly mother and may even have endowed some almshouses in Teddington, where she had settled at the height of her success. She died, unmarried, in 1760, having suffered a long wasting illness, and is buried in Teddington's parish church of St Mary’s.

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