Johnson Birthplace Museum

LICHFIELD

SK1109NE BREADMARKET STREET 1094-1/5/65 (South West side) 05/02/52 Johnson Birthplace Museum (Formerly Listed as: BREADMARKET STREET Dr Johnson's House)

GV I

House and book shop, became museum 1901, now with book shop (1990). c1707. For Michael Johnson. Timber-frame with brick infill and stucco facades; tile M-roof, hipped to right end, brick stacks. Double-depth plan. Georgian style. 3 storeys; 5-window range. 1st floor jettied on 2 Tuscan columns and one Doric column to centre, all on simple plinths, frieze and cornice over; giant angle pilasters to upper floors; top modillioned timber cornice. Paired entrances have fielded-panel pilaster strips, friezes and cornices over 6-fielded-panel doors; opposed steps with wooden handrails. Ground floor has 2 windows to left end with 18-pane sashes with thick glazing bars, ovolo-moulded to interior, one to right end with 24-pane sash, all with moulded frames; 1st and 2nd floor windows have narrow sills and 18-pane sashes with thick glazing bars in moulded frames, but 2 to right end of 1st floor are later. Right return to Market Street has platt bands; entrance with small-paned overlight to 6-fielded-panel door with iron railings, with paired projecting windows to right with sill, entablature and 24-pane sashes; 9-pane sashes to upper windows, those to 2nd floor with thick glazing bars, and 2 hipped dormers with 9-pane sashes. Left return has exposed timber frame. Right end has wrought-iron sign bracket. Rear has 18-pane and 9-pane sashes; 2 gables. INTERIOR: dogleg staircase has column-on-vase balusters, square newels and moulded handrails; 1st floor has corner fireplace with Regency grate, similar fireplace to rear room; 2-panel door with H-L hinges; right end room has cornice, architraves and seats to windows and fireplace with overmantel; attic has stick balusters to staircase, exposed timber-framing and roof trusses. Dr Samuel Johnson, 1709-84, writer and lexicographer, son of Michael Johnson the bookseller, lived here until 1735. (Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Staffordshire: London: 1974-: P.194; Wilkinson R: Look at Lichfield: Lichfield: 1976-).

Listing NGR: SK1173009542