New information for a very old structure

Published: 26 September 2013

Mayor & Mayoress with Les Ashley

Nestled away on the hilltop near King Edward VI school stands a grade II listed building known as the Borrowcop Gazebo. A building has stood on the site since the late 1600's, but the present gazebo dates from around 1804. It is an interesting old structure, but a lack of information on site has led people to wonder what the building was for and why it was built.

So with the help of a £750 grant from the County Council's community paths initiative fund, Lichfield City Council has now provided an interpretation panel next to the gazebo. This explains the history of the building, and also the site itself and its association with the legend of the "slain martyrs" killed in battle.

One local resident. Les Ashley, has very fond recollections of the area surrounding the gazebo and has given the following reminiscences:

"I was born in the city of Lichfield in Birmingham road in 1933. I am proud to be a "Lichfeldian". When my late brother and I were about seven and five years old my father took us up to the gazebo and etched our initials on one of the walls. This happened to many children whose parents used the walls to mark their initials, but having taken a look recently they have since been removed."

"Another time to remember borrowcop hill was when the it was a great sledge run. It was quite long and during the savage winter in 1947 all the schools were closed because the radiator pipes had burst and transport could not get to the schools. So great times were had for schoolchildren who enjoyed some winter sports! At the foot of the hill was a pond and if you skidded you could end up in the frozen water. As the saying goes if only the gazebo could talk - well that's another story."

For further information contact: Heather Francis, Open Spaces Officer, Lichfield City Council. 01543 309851 email:heather.francis@lichfield.gov.uk