Riding the boundary of Lichfield since 1553

The office of Sheriff

A great honour, and often a very costly one.

The annual perambulation of the boundary

Where do we go? Follow the old description of the City and County of Lichfield.

"It begins at a place called the Cross and Hand, near the end of a street there, called Bacon-street, and from thence goeth northward along the lane leading to Longdon Church, unto a little Lane (now called Featherbed-lane) at the further side of Oakenfields, and so along that little cross-lands unto another lane that leadeth from Lichfield to King's Bromley; and then along that lane towards Lichfield, unto a little lane lying between the Grange Ground and Collin's Hill Field, commonly called the Circuit lane, unto the further end of it betwixt two fields, the one called Hic-filius, and the other Piper's Croft; and so over across a lane that leadeth from Lichfield to Elmhurst, and then into another little lane between Stichbrooke Ground and Gifforde's Crofte; and so along that little lane to a green lane at the further side of the Lady Leasowe, being the land of Zachary Babington, Esquire, and down that lane to a brook, called Pone's Brook;

and so over that brook into another lane, called Stepping-stones-lane; and so along that lane, taking in the land of Richard Pyott, Esq. called Pone's Fields, unto a lane leading from Lichfield to Curborough Somerville; and so along that lane towards Lichfield, until you come to the upper end of the grounds, called Scott's Orchard; and then, leaving that lane, turn into a field of Lichfield, called Whisich, at a stile going into the fields, called Browne's Fields; and so taking in the field, called Whisich, then go by the closes, called Browne's Fields Hedge, unto the grounds called God's Croft Hedge; and so along that hedge, taking in the field called Whisich, unto a lane called Goslinge's-lane; and so along Goslinge's-lane, unto a lane called Matthew-Coal-lane;

and so over across that lane into a field called Cross-field, at or near an elm tree, and so along a head-land about the middle of Crossfield, unto the nearer end of Gorsty Bank, into the lane leading from Lichfield to a cross-way called Burton-turnings; and from thence along Ikeneld-street, taking in Spear-hill and Boley, unto a cross-way leading from Lichfield to Whittington; and so along that lane, towards Whittington, unto the south end of Austin's Coat Grounds; then turning upon the left hand at that brook, to a gate going into Fulfin Grounds, unto the moors called Dernford Moors; and so along by the hedge of those moors unto the nether side of Dernford Mill stream; and so going by the mill-door to the pool-dam, and going along by the pool and the brook, taking in Horslade, and a meadow belonging to Freeford House, unto a bridge called Freeford Bridge, in a lane leading from Lichfield to Tamworth;

and so from that bridge, up the sandy lane, to Freeford House, and along that lane to the corner of the meadow; and then turning into Bispells (Bishopshull), at the corner of the meadow, and so going by the meadow hedge, until you come to the brook that runneth to Freeford Bridge, and so going up a little pool, taking in all Bispells, unto a ford called Baltrex-ford; and then entering into Old-field, turn up the left hand to the brook that runs from Freeford Pool, and so along that brook to Freeford Pool, and along by the pool and the brook that comes from Swynfen Mill, until you come into that lane that leads from Swynfen unto the mill; and so along that lane to a gate that leads from Lichfield unto Swynfen, called Old Field Gate; and then not coming in at that gate, but going to the corner of the hedge adjoining to Cley Lands, come in at a gap, and, taking in all Old-field, come by the demesnes of Swynfen unto a place called Long-bridge,

and so entering into a little lane between Long-furlong and Long-bridge grounds, leading to Well-crofts, and so taking in all Well-crofts, along by the Knowle Leasowes, being the Hospital Land, unto Ikeneld-street; and so along Ikeneld-street, unto the further side of a close called Gorsty Leasowe; and leaving the hedge on the left hand, taking in that close, going along by that hedge leading to Hare-house Ground, and so along that hedge unto the top of Dean's Slade; taking in all Hare-house Ground, northward, enter into Park-field, leaving the hedge on the right hand, and so following that hedge unto a little lane at Aldershawe, that comes down that lane to the gate, and through the gate; then turn upon the left hand by Aldershawe Hedge, taking in the barn, and so go into the Wheat Close, leading the hedge on the left hand unto the road called the Fosseway, up to the top of Mickle-hill;

then crossing over Pipe-green, along an old decayed cart-way, into a lane-end that leads to Pipe-grange-lane, to the further side of Padwell's; and so taking in Padwell's, leaving the hedge on the left hand, to a little lane that leadeth into Ashfield, leaving the hedge on the left hand, into the grounds called Lammas Grounds, and leaving the hedge on the left hand, and so into Lemondsley; then following the brook to Pipe-green gate, and so along the brook in Pipe-green, into a little lane that butteth upon the lane that leadeth from Lichfield to Pipe, and crossing that lane into Smithfield, at the corner of Abnell Hedge, and so taking in all Smithfield, leaving Abnell Ground on the left hand, unto the Cross and Hand, where it began."

The History and Antiquities of the City of Lichfield, Thomas Harwood, 1806

The City and County of Lichfield

Forget your sat-nav.

The ride through the years

Photographs of the Sheriff's Ride, from the oldest images we have to the present day.

1908

The oldest images we have

Sheriff 1908William Arthur Wood

1910

The Sheriff's Ride at the Horse & Jockey

Sheriff 1910Frederic Dand Winterton

1918

An invitation from the Sheriff

An invitation from Sheriff J. R. Deacon for the Sheriff's Ride on 7 September 1918.

1947

The ride enters Bore Street

2019

The last ride organised by the City Council

The last Sheriff's Ride to be organised by Lichfield City Council.

2023

A new chapter: cycle and equestrian rides

Combined cycle and equestrian events, organised by a group of supporters trying to maintain the tradition of annually riding round the boundary of the City and County of Lichfield.

Sheriff 2023Adam Burns-Mace

Today

Lichfield Sheriff's Ride CIO

We organise the Sheriff's Ride (the perambulation of the boundary of the old City and County of Lichfield, in accordance with the 1553 Charter) as an equestrian and cycling event, promoting and supporting the office of the Sheriff of Lichfield and its associated traditions. Registered Charity No. 1215898.