One of Lichfield’s best-loved independents is celebrating a special milestone. Bore St. Bakery, which has become a fixture of the city centre since opening its doors in 2017, is marking eight years of baking for the community.
Freshly Baked Favourites
Bore St. Bakery has built a reputation for the quality of its handmade loaves, pastries, cakes and savouries. From golden croissants fresh out of the oven in the morning to hearty sourdough that has become a staple for many families, the bakery has become part of everyday life in Lichfield. Their sausage rolls are something of a local legend, often selling out before lunchtime, while their seasonal cakes and sweet bakes bring queues to the counter.
The bakery has also become a friendly meeting place for locals and visitors, with its warm welcome and unmistakable aroma of fresh bread drawing people in from across the city. Its growth over the years reflects the rise in demand for independent businesses that combine quality with community spirit.
On the Rise
As Lichfield’s food and drink scene has blossomed, Bore St. Bakery has played its part in making the city a destination for people seeking authentic, artisan produce. The bakery’s eight-year story is one of hard work, passion and pride in craft and as they reach this milestone, it’s clear their role in the life of the city is only growing stronger.
Looking ahead, Bore St. Bakery is well placed to continue thriving as Lichfield evolves. With more visitors discovering the city each year, and a community eager to support its independents, the bakery’s mix of tradition and creativity means its ovens will keep turning out favourites for years to come. For many, it has become more than just a shop, it is part of the flavour and identity of Lichfield itself.
Bore Street’s Historic Character
Bore Street itself has long been one of the most historic and characterful parts of Lichfield. Once home to coaching inns, merchants and traders, it remains a bustling thoroughfare linking the Market Square to Beacon Park. Independent shops and businesses now line the street, with Bore St. Bakery adding to its mix of heritage and modern life. The bakery’s success has played a part in keeping the street vibrant and welcoming, showing how traditional crafts like baking still have a central place in today’s city centre.
Hidden Histories of Bore Street
- Historic Prison QuartersIn the late 1700s and early 1800s, Bore Street played an unlikely role in international history. During the Napoleonic Wars, French soldiers were temporarily housed here, with records suggesting as many as 80 men arrived in 1797 and a further 40 officers in 1809. A cooper’s workshop behind one of the houses became their quarters, showing how even small corners of Lichfield were tied to world events.Source: Lichfield Lore
- A Tudor Gem with SecretsOne of the most eye-catching buildings on Bore Street is the black-and-white timbered The Tudor of Lichfield, dating from around 1510. Over the centuries it has been an inn, a shop, and even a place of imprisonment during the Civil War. Hidden within is a tiny “Priests’ Hole” where crosses were once carved into the wood, and local legend tells of a tunnel linking its cellars with the Cathedral.Source: Patrick Comerford
- Thomas Minors and His School for Poor BoysSeventeenth-century benefactor Thomas Minors left money to establish a free school for poor boys on Bore Street. His will made sure that thirty children could be taught to read the Bible without charge to their parents. The school remained part of the street’s fabric for many years and reflected the strong tradition of philanthropy in the city.Source: Wikipedia – Thomas Minors
- The Lichfield Guildhall: From Medieval Guild to Georgian MarvelThe imposing Guildhall has stood on Bore Street since medieval times. Originally home to the Guild of St Mary and St John the Baptist, it was rebuilt in the 1700s and given its striking Gothic look by local architect Joseph Potter Jr in the 1840s. Inside, its hammer-beamed hall and stained glass windows connect it directly to Lichfield Cathedral, while outside, statues of George V and Queen Mary look down on passers-by.Source: Wikipedia – Lichfield Guildhall
- Clock Tower and the Ancient Water SupplyAt the junction of Bore and Bird Streets once stood the Crucifix Conduit, built in 1301 to bring fresh water from Aldershawe to the Friary. In Victorian times a large clock tower was placed above it, becoming a familiar landmark until rising traffic forced its removal. In 1928, the tower was carefully rebuilt on The Friary, where it still stands today.Source: Patrick Comerford
- Changing Faces & Lost LandmarksLike many parts of the city, Bore Street has changed with the times. The top end once held Jones’ car garage and the original site of the clock tower. Although both disappeared, the tower was preserved and relocated brick by brick. Today, the area is home to independent shops and eateries, showing how the street continues to reinvent itself while holding on to its heritage.Source: The 3Rs Blog
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