The Lychgate at Lickey

This lychgate was erected in 1912 when burials ceased in the main churchyard of Holy Trinity Church and the churchyard extension opened. It had fallen into a poor state of repair before it was renovated in 2001 by a local volunteer group.

The word derives from the Saxon 'lych', meaning corpse. In medieval times only the rich were buried in coffins. The poor were laid out under a shroud in the shelter of the lychgate and priests would often begin the funeral service at the gate.