Norman churches, each with later influences and additions, a number of Tudor and Stuart half-timbered buildings, along with handsome Queen Anne and Georgian town houses. The public
buildings include the Classical Shire Hall, the French Gothic Borough Hall, and the early Edwardian Baroque County Buildings.
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| Ancient High House, Stafford |
Constructed by the Dorrington family in 1595 the Ancient High House is the largest timber-framed town house in the country. King Charles I briefly stayed at the house during the first few months of the English Civil War. Letters signed and dated by the king at the High House survive. Be prepared for a lot of stairs to get to the top floor, there isn't a lift. The exhibitions are well curated and displays the history of the Ancient High House in an informative way. There's plenty to keep the kids entertained too.
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| Shire Hall, Stafford |
The Shire Hall is now an art gallery and craft shop full of works that look great in a gift shop but not necessarily in my house at least. The Shire Hall was designed by John Harvey and built in 1798 to replace an earlier Elizabethan structure which was originally used for meetings and dances as well as the assize court and quarter sessions.
There has been a Bear Inn on the main street since late medieval times and is opposite the Ancient High House. Variously known as the White Bear, Black Bear and Bear Inn.
Follow the Stafford Town Trail to take in the best of Stafford. The trail should take around an hour and is wheelchair friendly.
Road: Stafford is served by M6 junctions 13 and 14, and is only 12 miles from the M6 Toll.
Rail: Stafford train station is on the West Coast mainline between London, the North West and Scotland with fast and frequent services to and from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Glasgow and the South West.
Canal: The Trent and Mersey, Shropshire Union and Staffordshire and Worcestershire canals flow through the Borough of Stafford.
Canal: The Trent and Mersey, Shropshire Union and Staffordshire and Worcestershire canals flow through the Borough of Stafford.
Air: Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands and Liverpool international airports are within an hour’s drive of Stafford.
