Join us during our opening hours and see if you can find all of the High House mice! Pick up a free mouse trail from the High House desk to see if you can answer all of the questions.

We are delighted to have back the popular art exhibition, “Making a Mark”. Mark Lippett is an award winning Fine Artist from Staffordshire in the West Midlands. He is mostly known for his architectural work depicting abandoned buildings which have been exhibited across the UK in a number of solo and group shows. Mark has also built up a reputation as an art tutor delivering workshops and teaching classes to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. His encouraging and patient approach to teaching builds confidence and inspires creativity. He has worked with schools and colleges as well as within Adult Community Learning. The exhibition will be running during usual Ancient High House opening hours, Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm. Entrance is free but donations are kindly accepted.

A great introduction into embroidery with our resident seamstress at the Ancient High House. You will learn a variety of basic embroidery stitches on to an Aida bookmark to create a unique and useful stitch sampler. This is suitable for beginners, with no or little experience, or those with experience wanting to refresh their memory or learn different stitches. It is great for someone wanting to socialise as well as learn a variety of techniques. There is also the opportunity for previous workshop attendees to add to their bookmark stitch samplers. All materials, professional guidance and refreshments will be provided. All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

A great introduction into embroidery with our resident seamstress at the Ancient High House. You will learn a variety of basic embroidery stitches on to an Aida bookmark to create a unique and useful stitch sampler. This is suitable for beginners, with no or little experience, or those with experience wanting to refresh their memory or learn different stitches. It is great for someone wanting to socialise as well as learn a variety of techniques. There is also the opportunity for previous workshop attendees to add to their bookmark stitch samplers. All materials, professional guidance and refreshments will be provided. All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

An introduction to the benefits of nature’s own medicine is followed by you making a blend to meet your personal needs. You will create 2 roller ball bottles of your personal blend which will fit perfectly into your pocket or bag. These bottles are refillable and with the skills you learn you will be able to refill these again and again. This is suitable for beginners, with no or little experience, as you will be guided by our inhouse aromatherapist. All materials, professional guidance and refreshments will be provided. This workshop is held at the Ancient High House. All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 14 days of the workshop. Adults only.

Choose from either a glasses pouch, scissor saver or coin purse to make throughout the 2 sessions. Our resident seamstress will be on hand to help you learn some basic hand sewing techniques whilst making your items, including attaching a button and making a buttonhole, sewing a popper and more. Guidance and refreshments will be provided. Dates: Saturday 5th July 10.30am to 1.00pm Saturday 9th August 10.30 am to 1.00pm Booking both sessions is advised as this workshop is designed to be delivered in two parts. If only one session is booked, you will not receive the full amount of guidance or enough time to complete making their item. All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

In this family friendly exhibition, we explore how the people of a land-locked county enjoyed their holidays and leisure time. For the industrial masses of 19th century Staffordshire, a ‘holiday’ as we know it today did not really exist. The small amount of time people could afford to spend away from work was put aside for traditional celebrations. You can find out how all of this changed when rail travel afforded the working classes their first glimpse of the coast! Tourism boomed, and the holiday seasons paved the way for bright lights and entertainment at the seaside. A hey-day of holiday fun came, and slowly went. As the world of travel and tourism moved on, it left behind a strong sense of British traditions and values. This fun and interactive exhibition takes you to from Staffordshire to the shore using objects, photographs and documents from Staffordshire Archive & Heritage’s historic collections. Exhibition available to view during the Ancient High House’s opening hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

Take a gentle stroll around Stafford with our knowledgeable guide to see the town in a new light. Learn about the secrets of the buildings and about colourful characters from the past. All information on this edition of the town trail will be presented also in British Sign Language by an interpreter. The tour will last for approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. Meet outside the Ancient High House at 10.30am.

Choose from a wide variety of threads, colours and designs to create a scatter cushion for your home in the way you choose. Our resident seamstress will be on hand to help you learn some basic hand sewing techniques whilst making your items, including attaching a button and making a buttonhole, sewing a popper and more. Guidance and refreshments will be provided. Dates: Saturday 13th September 10.30am to 1.30pm Saturday 11th October 10.30am to 1.30pm Booking both sessions is advised as this workshop is designed to be delivered in two parts. If only one session is booked, you will not receive the full amount of guidance or enough time to complete making their item. All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

Under the guidance of our knitting expert you will learn the skills necessary to create a cosy hat and matching hand warmers as we head towards winter. Completed over two sessions, this workshop includes pattern, yarn, knitting needles, cloth workbag and refreshments. These workshops are ideal for intermediates or returning guests from our previous knitting workshops, but full instruction will always be given. Choose from the range of colours offered. (Colours must be specified upon booking and cannot be changed later). Dates: Saturday 27th September 11.00am to 2.00pm Saturday 18th October 11.00am to 2.00pm All payments must be made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop, but materials can be collected by arrangement.

Choose from a wide variety of threads, colours and designs to create a Christmas Stocking for your home in the way you choose. Our resident seamstress will be on hand to help you learn some basic hand sewing techniques whilst making your items, including personalising and decorating the stocking before hand sewing it together. Guidance and refreshments will be provided. All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

Come along to this Aromatherapy workshop hosted at the Ancient High House. Learn how to avoid harsh chemicals and create an environmentally friendly way to make your home smell amazing. This workshop is perfect or you to learn how to create your own household products. You will learn about the benefits of aromatherapy oil before getting hands on to make one of your own. Perfect for you or as a gift. The workshop will offer a selection of oils to create either a Christmas scent or one of your own choosing. This is suitable for beginners, with no or little experience, as you will be guided by our inhouse aromatherapist. All materials, professional guidance and refreshments will be provided. All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 14 days of the workshop. Adults only.

Choose from a wide variety of threads, colours and designs to create a Christmas Hanging Decoration for your home in the way you choose. Our resident seamstress will be on hand to help you learn some basic hand sewing techniques whilst making your items, including the personalised embroidery and beading onto felt to create the hanging decoration. Guidance and refreshments will be provided. All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

Our popular event returns as the Ancient High House is decorated for Christmas. Each room will be decorated accordingly for the era which it showcases, with our guides dressed in period clothing providing lots of information and showing you all about Christmas through the ages! Come along and discover how Christmas was celebrated during the different eras that this historic building has stood to witness. Our staff will be on hand to talk about the history of Christmas and their rooms! There will be mince pies, mulled wine and sweets on sale so why not pop in for a refreshment! We will also have a small children’s craft activity. This year the event is changing format slightly – more to offer and see will be coming! Check back here or follow us on our socials for updates! (Links to social media can be found at the bottom of this webpage).

Enjoy a relaxed social space with our new catch-up sessions for crafts, chatting and enjoying hot drinks. Bring along any unfinished embroidery or knitting projects that you are working on, or bring something new that you would like to start. Guidance and refreshments will be provided; however, attendees will need to bring their own materials and equipment (no electrical items, hand crafts only please).

See the “Razzle Dazzle” that occurs from the rehearsal room to the stage! This exhibition follows the journey taken from the first rehearsal to performance of musical “Chicago”, which was performed in 2024. Costumes and props will also be on display to provide a unique insight into the creation of a Youth Theatre production. In collaboration with Stafford Gatehouse Musicals Youth Theatre and professional photographer Maddie Hughes. Donations are kindly accepted and will help support Gatehouse Youth Theatre. The exhibition will be running during usual Ancient High House opening hours, Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm. Entrance is free.