A bust of Samuel Johnson has been presented in Lichfield to mark Johnson’s birthday. It was spectacularly unveiled from a scissor lift by the Mayor of Lichfield, Councillor Sam Schafer, and Town Crier and Sword Bearer, Adrian Holmes, on Wednesday 18 September 2024. Deputy Mayor Councillor Claire Pinder-Smith, Sheriff of the City Cathy Wood, and the Sheriff’s consort Nigel Gann were all in attendance.
The ceremony included speeches from The Johnson Society, who championed the bust’s reinstatement and helped to launch the project, and Jono Oates, who set-up the Go Fund Me crowdfunding campaign for the bust’s repairs and installation.
‘The Johnson’s Head’ bust was generously donated to Lichfield City Council as a gift to the people of Lichfield by Peter Hone, who purchased it at auction in 2017 on the understanding that it was to be returned to its original location over the door of number 10 Bird Street.
There had been a ‘Johnson’s Head’ happily overlooking passers-by in Lichfield for many years. An initial bust of Johnson was installed on the site around 1821 by bookseller and printer Thomas George Lomax (1783-–1873), former Mayor and an important figure in Lichfield’s history, who ran his business in the premises. The building became affectionately known as “the Johnson’s Head”. This bust was replaced by a second one in December 1884 to commemorate the centenary of Johnson’s death and was eventually removed in 1969.
The project to repair, restore, and reinstate the gifted 1884 bust was helped by the generosity of local people, businesses, and the Go Fund Me crowdfunding campaign. The bust required extensive restoration and specialist installation, which was carried out by Jones Carving, Messenger BCR, Brownhill Hayward Brown Chartered Architects, Hibberd Consulting Engineers (of Lichfield), and Green Power Plant Hire who have each kindly donated their time to the project which was supported by Lichfield City Council.
The Go Fund Me campaign, set-up by Jono Oates of Jono’s Tourism, raised over £3,000 to support the associated costs, receiving generous donations from The Johnson Society, Viking E-Cigs and members of the public. Mr Oates himself also made a separate contribution.
John Winterton from The Johnson Society said -
“The Johnson Society is very pleased to have played a part in bringing the ‘Johnson’s Head’ bust back to Lichfield. Johnson himself said that ‘every man has a lurking wish to appear considerable in his native place’, and so he would surely have appreciated the return of this much-loved tribute to him.”
Jono Oates said -
“I’m very proud to be one of the team that has made it possible to bring the bust of Samuel back home, after an absence of 55 years. I’d like to personally thank everyone who contributed to the GoFundMe campaign, without whom the project could not have succeeded, and also thank those who provided words of encouragement and support. Welcome home Samuel!”
Kimberley Biddle, Museums and Heritage Officer at Lichfield City Council said -
“This project has been a collaborative effort, and our thanks go to all the organisations and individuals who were involved and donated, particularly Peter Hone, Jones Carving, Messenger BCR, Brownhill Hayward Brown Chartered Architects, Hibberd Consulting Engineers, Green Power Plant Hire, Jono Oates, The Johnson Society, The George Hotel, Viking E-Cigs, Joanne Wilson, and everyone who contributed and gave their support.”