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.

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).

Choose from a wide variety of threads, colours and designs to create a festive design of your choice; this could be something autumnal themed or why not get ready for Christmas early! 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. There are three dates to choose from as shown below. Each is a separate and individual workshop: Saturday 24th October Saturday 28th November Saturday 12th December Feel free to book onto multiple of these workshops if you would like to continue working on your design, or start another! 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. Please be aware that this event is held across the three floors of the Ancient High House, up several flights of stairs. There are steps to enter into the building and then 17 more wide steps with a handrail between each floor. For toilets, the womens is on the first floor and the mens is on the second. Historic Stafford staff are always present to assist you if required.

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).

Choose from a wide variety of threads, colours and designs to create a festive design of your choice; this could be something Christmas or Winter themed. 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. There are three dates to choose from as shown below. Each is a separate and individual workshop: Saturday 24th October Saturday 28th November Saturday 12th December Feel free to book onto multiple of these workshops if you would like to continue working on your design, or start another! All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

THIS EVENT IS NOT YET FOR SALE Book your slot for a visit to see Santa during Stafford Town Light Switch On day! Alongside seeing Santa in his beautifully decorated grotto, write a letter with a guaranteed reply following your visit. There will also be a Christmas Sweet Shop and a Christmas tree to hang your wishes on with elves to guide you all the way! Please arrive 30 minutes before your slot so that you can write your letter to Santa. Slots available from 10.30 to 3.20. Please ring the Ancient High House on 01785 619131 or visit us to pre-book. All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the event. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please be aware that this event is held on the second floor of the Ancient High House, up several flights of stairs. There are steps to enter into the building and then 17 more wide steps with a handrail between each floor. For toilets, the womens is on the first floor and the mens is on the second. Historic Stafford staff are always present to assist you if required.

All materials supplied to decorate your very own moss ring with fresh greenery, ribbon, dried fruit, baubles or whatever you fancy. Inspiration photos are provided and staff are on hand for advice. This is an ideal pre-Christmas social for adults only, with seasonal music. Your booking price includes a glass of prosecco (or no-secco), orange juice or a hot drink, along with a mince pie. Pre-booking is required. Please book online through this webpage. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop, but materials can be collected by arrangement.

This workshop is a brilliant introduction into Blackwork embroidery for beginners. Across two workshops, you will be taught the basic stitches and aims when working in this medium. 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. All materials, professional guidance and refreshments will be provided. The two dates for this workshop are: Saturday 27th June 2026 Saturday 18th July 2026 All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

This workshop is a brilliant introduction into Blackwork embroidery for beginners. Across two workshops, you will be taught the basic stitches and aims when working in this medium. 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. All materials, professional guidance and refreshments will be provided. The two dates for this workshop are: Saturday 27th June 2026 Saturday 18th July 2026 All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

Join our in-house seamstress at the Ancient High House for another delve into Blackwork embroidery. This time, across two workshops, you will use stitches and patterns, learnt in the introductory sessions, to create a design of your choice which upon completion can be framed in a black frame creating a bold piece of art for your home. This is suitable for those with experience wanting to refresh their memory or learn different stitches and would be perfect as a follow on to the ‘Introduction to Blackwork Workshops’ held in June and July. It is great for someone wanting to socialise as well as learn a variety of techniques. All materials, professional guidance and refreshments will be provided. The two dates for this workshop are: Saturday 19th September 2026 Saturday 17th October 2026 All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

Join our in-house seamstress at the Ancient High House for another delve into Blackwork embroidery. This time, across two workshops, you will use stitches and patterns, learnt in the introductory sessions, to create a design of your choice which upon completion can be framed in a black frame creating a bold piece of art for your home. This is suitable for those with experience wanting to refresh their memory or learn different stitches and would be perfect as a follow on to the ‘Introduction to Blackwork Workshops’ held in June and July. It is great for someone wanting to socialise as well as learn a variety of techniques. All materials, professional guidance and refreshments will be provided. The two dates for this workshop are: Saturday 19th September 2026 Saturday 17th October 2026 All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

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).

Never have cold coffee again! Under the guidance of our knitting expert you will learn the skills necessary to create a cute, festive mug cosy and coaster. Ideal as a hand crafted Christmas gift or keep it for yourself! £30 pp includes pattern, yarn, knitting needles, cloth workbag and refreshments. This workshop is ideal for beginners or intermediates as full instruction will be given. Choose from Reindeer or Snowflake design. (This must be specified at time of booking and cannot be changed later). 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 festive design of your choice; this could be something Christmas or Winter themed. 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. There are three dates to choose from as shown below. Each is a separate and individual workshop: Saturday 24th October Saturday 28th November Saturday 12th December Feel free to book onto multiple of these workshops if you would like to continue working on your design, or start another! All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

A day exclusively for home educators. Spend the day with our guides exploring and learning the history of the 430 year-old Ancient High House. Discuss what Stafford was like in the Tudor period through learning about rich and poor life, fashion, food and drink, social history and the construction of the house. The day will include a wattle and daub activity, dress up and hands-on items. This tour will be held on Monday 28th September 2026, 10.00am to 12.00pm and is for ages 6 – 11. Please email [email protected] for more information and to book. This is one of several Home Educator Tours available at the Ancient High House this year – please check the ‘What’s On’ page of this website for other dates. Please be aware that this event is held across the three floors of the Ancient High House, up several flights of stairs. There are steps to enter into the building and then 17 more wide steps with a handrail between each floor. For toilets, the womens is on the first floor and the mens is on the second. Historic Stafford staff are always present to assist you if required.

An exhibition showcasing a collection of archival 35mm slide film photographs. This presentation consists of a stranger’s mountaineering adventures across the Alps from the 1970s to the 2000s. The exhibition is free to visit and is located on the first floor of the Ancient High House.

An art exhibition featuring drawings and paintings by the students of professional artist and tutor Mark Lippett. The exhibition is free to visit and is located on the first floor of the Ancient High House.

Please be aware that this event is provisional and subject to change. As the night draws in learn about the history of the ghosts that haunt the Ancient High House with this night time, lamp-led tour (over 18’s only). In the past the Ancient High House has been a residential home, a civil war prison, a school and home to an antique shop. So it’s not surprising that a building with such a traumatic history should have tormented souls trapped within its walls… Join one of our guides as they take you on a tour round the High House by dark. Hear the spooky tales that lie behind each room. Pre booking is required. Please book via the website. For more details, feel free to visit or ring the Ancient High House on 01785 619131. Please arrive at 7.15pm. The tour is 90 minutes long and includes refreshments of tea and coffee. (Over 18’s only) Please be aware that this event is held across the three floors of the Ancient High House, up several flights of stairs. There are steps to enter into the building and then 17 more wide steps with a handrail between each floor. For toilets, the womens is on the first floor and the mens is on the second. Historic Stafford staff are always present to assist you if required.