In the final chapter of the British Museum’s Silk Roads exhibition, the focus shifts to the British Isles, the westernmost stretch of the ancient trade routes that connected East and West. Three English towns Lichfield, Jarrow, and Southend-on-Sea—serve as surprising destinations at the end of this historic network.
Lichfield, located in Staffordshire, holds a prominent place in British ecclesiastical history. The town’s magnificent cathedral, with its three spires and intricate stonework, evokes a sense of both grandeur and history. Lichfield was once the seat of an archbishopric in the eighth century, a time when Offa, the king of Mercia, exerted power over much of England. The cathedral houses the Lichfield Gospels, which are closely related to the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells, showcasing the rich Christian heritage of the region. The town also holds treasures such as a carved limestone panel of the archangel Gabriel, which reflects Byzantine influence, underscoring the town’s connection to the far-reaching cultural exchanges of the Silk Road.
Lichfield prospered in the 17th and 18th centuries as a key stopover for travelers moving between London and the north. The town’s wealth and status were evident in its early adoption of modern infrastructure, including sewers, gas lighting, and paved streets. Famous figures like Samuel Johnson, the compiler of the first English dictionary, hailed from Lichfield, adding to the town’s intellectual legacy. Today, Lichfield retains much of its Georgian charm and remains a vibrant hub for those seeking a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.
Jarrow, located in Tyne and Wear, is a town steeped in both industrial and religious history. It is most famous for the Jarrow March of 1936, when local workers marched to London to protest against high unemployment. The march remains a symbol of the struggle for workers’ rights in Britain. Jarrow also holds deep religious significance as the home of the Venerable Bede, one of the most important scholars of the early medieval period. The town’s Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Abbey was a center of learning, and Bede’s work, including his compilation of the Codex Amiatinus, the world’s oldest complete Latin Bible, had a profound influence on Christian scholarship. Despite the destruction wrought by Henry VIII during the Reformation, Jarrow still retains significant historical landmarks, including St. Paul’s Church, which dates back to the 7th century.
Southend-on-Sea in Essex, known for its seaside attractions, has an unexpected link to the Silk Road through the discovery of the Prittlewell Princely Burial in 2003. Archaeologists uncovered a burial chamber containing high-status objects, including a Byzantine copper-alloy flagon, which indicated the presence of trade connections with the eastern Mediterranean. The grave, believed to belong to a Saxon prince, contained treasures that suggest a sophisticated lifestyle and international connections. Items such as a Merovingian coin and a Byzantine bowl point to the influence of far-off lands, challenging the traditional view of Britain as isolated after the fall of the Roman Empire. The discovery has reshaped our understanding of early medieval Britain’s place in global trade networks.
Each of these towns, though seemingly distant from the bustling trade routes of Asia, reveals how the far-reaching connections of the Silk Road shaped even the most unexpected corners of the British Isles. From Lichfield’s ecclesiastical treasures to Jarrow’s scholarly legacy and Southend’s archaeological finds, these towns are a testament to the enduring influence of the Silk Road on British history.
