In Lichfield near and around Staffordshire County Council - Lichfield College.

This is the Staffordshire County Council building for Lichfield College and Library Services.

It includes Lichfield Library, Lichfield Record Office, The Friary Gallery, Library, Art & Archives Committee, Education Committee and Lichfield College.

Grade II listed.

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LICHFIELD

SK1109SE THE FRIARY 1094-1/8/232 (South side) 05/02/52 Lichfield College and Lichfield Library (Formerly Listed as: BIRMINGHAM ROAD Lichfield Friary Grammar School for Girls)

GV II

Part of Franciscan Friary, converted to house and then to school. c1295, altered and extended to north, 1538, for Gregory Stonynge; extended, 1921-8, by GC Lowbridge, County Architect. Ashlar and brick; tile roofs with brick stacks. T-plan with end cross-wings, original building forming end and cross-wing of arm to right. Original building, known as the Bishop's Lodging, forms L-plan with short wing. Mostly ashlar with some brick. North wing: 2 storeys with attic; 3-window left return range. 2 offset ashlar and brick buttresses; 3 coped gables. Pointed entrance to right end has single-chamfered arch. Tall stair window to left end has leaded glazing, 3-light ovolo-mullioned window to left; 1st floor has 2 mullioned and transomed windows of 3 lights; attic has casement windows with iron opening casements. Two C20 lateral stacks. End has early brickwork with offset below timber-framed gable with ogee bracing and brick infill, ashlar angle to right with return raking buttress; small window high up to right projects and has leaded glazing, gable has slanting window. Right return has gabled wing to right of centre and right end gable. Left end of ashlar with some brick; ground floor has 2-light casement and pegged cross casement both with timber lintels and leaded glazing; 1st floor has 3 windows with 12-pane sashes. Wing has much ashlar and brick patching, raised eaves and diagonal buttresses; 2 windows to ground floor, one to 1st floor, all with 12-pane sashes, attic has small-paned casement; left return has blocked 1st floor round-headed light with spandrels, and lateral stack; right return has large brick section and eaves, 1st floor door to fire-escape with rubbed brick flat arch, and lateral stack. Gabled right end has signs of blocked openings and brick gable and angle buttress; 1st floor door. Rear elevation, south wing, of 2 storeys; 5-window range with central 2-storey porch with chamfered angles and parapet; 3 offset buttresses. Recessed entrance has steps up to recessed glazed and fielded-panelled door. Windows have paired 18-pane horned sashes, those to 1st floor with cornices and parapets, left end window with inserted half-glazed door; window to right of entrance has ex-situ gravestone of C14 or earlier below: calvary cross fleury and worn inscription to Richard the Merchant, found in 1746. C20 range of brick with ashlar dressings. 2 storeys; gabled centre with flanking 6- and 3-window ranges and wing to left end. 3-light ovolo-mullioned-and-transomed windows; coped gables. Centre has gabled buttresses and entrance with Tudor head in architrave with label mould; flanking windows with cornice above taken round base of canted oriel with vine and grapes to base, 1:2:1-light window, flanking 3-light windows and light above. Range to right to front of old range; gabled centre has 1st floor oriel. Range to left is symmetrical with 2 gabled projections with oriels. Wing has gabled buttresses; 2:3:2-light windows and cusped panelling between floors; 7-window left return. Rear has hall wing with tall windows with small-paned glazing and tall lateral stack; later additions. INTERIOR: old part has brick-vaulted cellars with ashlar benches and shelves; C20 paired sashes to corridors and staircase; ground floor room to wing has chamfered beams, square panelling, corner fireplace with pilasters, frieze and dentilled cornice; niche with shaped shelves and architrave; attic with exposed trusses, north wing with curved principals. C20 part has ex-situ C16 fireplace from panelled room, ashlar with Tudor arch and lettering: GREGORY STONYNG to spandrels, Delft tiles and cast iron fireback; late C20 alterations. During the C18 the house was the home of Mrs Cobb and her niece, friends of Dr Johnson, who often visited them. (Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Staffordshire: London: 1974-: P.191-2; Mullins H: History of the Friary School: Lichfield).