Citylife in Lichfield February 2021

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16 Erasmus Darwin portrait at Darwin House The Lovers of Lichfield By Jono Oates ............................ February is the month of love and Lichfield’s best-known figures from the Georgian era certainly had their share of romantic liaisons, love affairs and marriages! David Garrick was born on February 19th 1717 and so very close to Valentine’s Day, 14th February. Although born in Hereford, the Garrick family home was on Beacon Street, close to the cathedral, and he was educated and brought up in Lichfield. As a young scholar he attended Samuel Johnson’s ill-fated, and short-lived, school at Edial, where the two young men became friends and were travelling companions to London in 1737. Samuel Johnson statue, Lichfield Market Square Anna Seward sculpture by Peter Walker at Eramsus Darwin House Garrick initially worked in the wine trade but took up amateur dramatics and became one of the leading actors of his day. Although short in stature at 5ft 4 inches tall, he was a powerful presence, illuminating the stage with a distinctive style and swagger. His acting career brought him into close contact with some of the most beautiful actresses of the times, one of them being Margaret ‘Peg’ Woffington, a feisty Irish actress who frequently played the leading lady to Garrick’s leading man. The two shared not only roles on the stage but also had a tempestuous love affair off stage, however the pressures became too great and the pair finally separated. Garrick eventually married Eva Marie Viegel, a strikingly beautiful dancer from Vienna. Their marriage seemed to be a happy one, although they never had children, and they lived in a large mansion, Garrick’s Villa, by the side of the Thames at Hampton. Garrick died in 1779 aged 61 but Eva Marie outlived him by nearly forty years, passing away at the grand old age of 98. Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles, was born in Nottinghamshire but moved to Lichfield in 1757. Essentially a physician he developed a highly successful practice in Lichfield, allowing him to build a large David Garrick as Richard III (photo Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum) Georgian townhouse on the corner of the cathedral close, now Erasmus Darwin House. In the same year he moved to Lichfield he married Mary (known as Polly) Howard, with whom he had four children, although two of them died in infancy. When Polly died in 1770 Erasmus hired a governess, Mary Parker, to look after the two children. Erasmus had two illegitimate children with Mary, Susannah and Mary Parker Jnr. Darwin later met Elizabeth Pole, the wife of Colonel Edward Pole of Radbourne Hall, Derby. Erasmus became infatuated with Elizabeth and wrote several love poems to her. When Edward died in 1780 Elizabeth and Erasmus could finally marry and they had seven children, four boys and one girl, although one of the boys died in infancy. With at least 13 children, two marriages and an affair with his children’s governess, Erasmus, despite not being the most handsome of men, clearly knew the way to a lady’s heart! Anna Seward lived in the Bishop’s Palace in the cathedral close and became friends with her near-neighbour Erasmus Darwin. Anna was a well-known poetess of the Georgian era and, from the age of 40, had her work published commercially, which was very unusual for a female author at that time. She had several lovers but never married. Undoubtedly the greatest love of her life was John Saville, an outstanding singer in the Vicar’s Choral and who lived in Vicar’s Close. Unfortunately for Anna, Saville was a married man with two children – and his wife was not at all happy about the liaison! Despite this they continued to have a close relationship, which lasted until Saville died in August 1803, leaving Anna heartbroken. Anna wrote a poem when he died, which is listed on a memorial in Lichfield Cathedral. Samuel Johnson is Lichfield’s greatest son, born in September 1709 at the family home on the junction of Market Street and Breadmarket Street. Johnson travelled to London to become a writer, accompanied by his young friend Garrick, in 1737. Johnson achieved national acclaim in 1755, when he published his Dictionary of the English Language, making him one of the most well-known and respected men in London high society. Like Erasmus Darwin, he married a widow called Elizabeth, this time Elizabeth Porter, late wife of his friend Henry Porter. Elizabeth, known as Tetty, and Samuel married in July 1735 at St Werburgh’s Church in Derby. Tetty was 46 when they married and 21 years older than Samuel, and neither family approved of the marriage. They had no children but had three step-children from Tetty’s first marriage. Tetty died in 1752, aged 63 and so never got to witness the acclaim and success that Samuel achieved with the publication of his dictionary a few years later. Despite their family’s misgivings Johnson described his relationship with Tetty as a ‘love-match on both sides’ therefore showing that he, and the other Lichfield Georgian greats, knew the Power of Love! Sources: www.erasmusdarwin.org; Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; www.samulejohnsonbirthplace.org.uk
Is a Greyound the Dog for You? By Lauren Hirst ....................... Like many homing centres across the UK, Greyhound Trust Hall Green is receiving an u n p r e c e d e n t e d number of enquiries about adoption. Getting a dog is a Dino big step and getting the right dog to suit your lifestyle is so important in making it all work. There’s a new version making the rounds of the Dog’s Trust slogan ‘A Dog is Not Just for Christmas’ however this one is ‘A Dog Is Not Just for Lockdown.’ Dogs are wonderful companions and are a good way of getting exercise so it’s no wonder people are homing dogs in record numbers. However, the question arises: what will happen to your dog when things start to go back to some sort of normal? How long will the dog be left when you’re back in the office/gym/socialising with friends/running the kids around to their various clubs and activities? Will you have the time or energy to walk the dog before and after work and/or can you afford a dog walker? If the answer to all those questions is, yes, then maybe a greyhound is a dog to consider. Much to people’s surprise, most greyhounds are fairly low maintenance in their retirement given they were once top athletes. They still need regular walking at least 30 minutes twice a day enjoying the mental stimulation as well as the physical exercise (remember a bored dog is a destructive dog!). Generally speaking, they have a calm and gentle natures except for the mad 10 minutes now and then! Greyhounds can be shy, lively, big, small, and everything in between. Greyhounds are funny, quirky dogs who are unlike other dogs given the way they’ve been brought up. They have never been in a house, to the park, or seen other breeds of dogs, but with patience helping them settle into this weird and wonderful world that they find themselves in after they hang up their running shoes, they make the most wonderful pets. What could be more rewarding than that? Greyhound Trust Hall Green is allowed to home dogs under the government regulations. To find out more, please give us a ring on 0121 426 4810 or email hallgreen@greyhoundtrust.org.uk. Dogs like Dino (pictured) need you! 17
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Citylife in Lichfield February 2021

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