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Ghost Tour at the Ancient High House

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. Please arrive at 7.15pm.

The tour is 90 minutes long and includes refreshments of tea and coffee.

(Over 18’s only)

BOOKINGS HAVE NOT YET OPENED. Please check back here, or on our socials, for updates. (Links to social media can be found at the bottom of this webpage).

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.

Ghost Tour at the Ancient High House

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. Please arrive at 7.15pm.

The tour is 90 minutes long and includes refreshments of tea and coffee.

(Over 18’s only)

BOOKINGS HAVE NOT YET OPENED. Please check back here, or on our socials, for updates. (Links to social media can be found at the bottom of this webpage).

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.

Haunted High House Week

Are you ready for an all new Haunted High House format for 2025? With spooky entertainment for all ages, this time across the whole week, there will be something for everyone to enjoy!

Check back here or follow us on our socials for updates! (Links to social media can be found at the bottom of this webpage).

Please be aware that all of these events are 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.

Workshop – Christmas Sewing, Hanging Decoration

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.

Please book your space soon as spaces are limited.

Adults only.

Book your place by calling on 01785 619131 or visit us at the Ancient High House. Pre-booking is essential due to limited spaces.

Please be aware that this workshop is held on the first floor of the Ancient High House, up a flight of stairs. There are steps to enter into the building and then 17 more wide steps with a handrail to get to the first floor. For toilets, the womens is on the first floor too, a few feet from the Workshop room. As for the mens, they will need to go up another flight of 17 steps to the second floor. Historic Stafford staff are always present to assist you if required.

Workshop – Christmas Sewing, Stocking

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.

Please book your space soon as spaces are limited.

Adults only.

Book your place by calling on 01785 619131 or visit us at the Ancient High House. Pre-booking is essential due to limited spaces.

Please be aware that this workshop is held on the first floor of the Ancient High House, up a flight of stairs. There are steps to enter into the building and then 17 more wide steps with a handrail to get to the first floor. For toilets, the womens is on the first floor too, a few feet from the Workshop room. As for the mens, they will need to go up another flight of 17 steps to the second floor. Historic Stafford staff are always present to assist you if required.

Workshop – Beanie and Hand Warmers Knitting

Under the guidance of our knitting expert you will learn the skills necessary to create a cosy winter beanie (with optional bobble) and hand warmer set 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 beginners or those who wish to refresh their skills as full instruction will be given.

Choose from the range of colours offered. (Colours must be specified upon booking and cannot be changed later). Please see below for colour options (black, red, teal, navy blue, natural).

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.

Book your place by calling on 01785 619131 or visit us at the Ancient High House. Pre-booking is essential due to limited space.

Please be aware that this workshop is held on the first floor of the Ancient High House, up a flight of stairs. There are steps to enter into the building and then 17 more wide steps with a handrail to get to the first floor. For toilets, the womens is on the first floor too, a few feet from the Workshop room. As for the mens, they will need to go up another flight of 17 steps to the second floor. Historic Stafford staff are always present to assist you if required.

Workshop – Autumn Wreath

At our Autumn Wreath Workshop at Stafford Castle, you will weave your own beautiful willow garland by making a simple hoop and then choose from our collection of gorgeous dried flowers and grasses, ribbon and hessian to decorate it. This workshop is suitable for beginners and is a perfect introduction to willow weaving; you will have expert guidance on hand to help and there will be examples and designs to follow if you desire.

This workshop is incredibly relaxing and mindful, so why not come along and get in the autumn spirit in the most peaceful way!

All payments must me made upon booking. Please note: no refunds can be given for a cancellation within 7 days of the workshop.

Please book your space soon as spaces are limited.

Adults only.

Book your place by calling on 01785 619131 or visit us at the Ancient High House. Pre-booking is essential due to limited spaces.

Workshop – Autumn Embroidery

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.

Please book your space soon as spaces are limited.

Adults only.

Book your place by calling on 01785 619131 or visit us at the Ancient High House. Pre-booking is essential due to limited spaces.

Please be aware that this workshop is held on the first floor of the Ancient High House, up a flight of stairs. There are steps to enter into the building and then 17 more wide steps with a handrail to get to the first floor. For toilets, the womens is on the first floor too, a few feet from the Workshop room. As for the mens, they will need to go up another flight of 17 steps to the second floor. Historic Stafford staff are always present to assist you if required.

Workshop – Children’s Make a Viking Shield

As part of our Viking Re-Enactment event, younger audiences can come along to the Visitor Centre and design their very own foam Viking Shield!

This workshop is a part of our Viking Re-Enactment event. Come along, watch the battles, learn about the Viking way and head in to the Visitor Centre to do a children’s workshop where you will design and make your own foam shield to take home! Use your knowledge of runes and Viking design to create a personal piece of art and march around the event showcasing your new piece of weaponry!

 

Viking Re-Enactment event information:

Viking Re-Eanctment takes place on Saturday the 2nd and Sunday the 3rd August 2025, between 10.00am and 4.00pm both days at Stafford Castle, Newport Road, Stafford, ST16 1DJ.

Most activities, stalls and things to see are free however we will have a small charge for the children’s workshop.

Event admission is free but there is a charge for parking if required. We strongly encourage walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing to get to the event! It is about a 30 minute walk from Stafford Railway Station, near the town centre, to Stafford Castle. The 5A bus can be caught outbound from Stafford Town Centre to Stafford Castle (Thorneyfields Lane/adj Thorneyfields Lane stops) on Sundays, throughout the duration of the event.

We have plenty of parking space at this event with an overflow parking option at King Edward VI High School. Please do not park on surrounding roads and verges nearby to Stafford Castle – this will be monitored during the event.

Please be aware that pictures will be being taken at this event that may be used for our website or on our social media accounts.

Please bring cash if you are parking as this is essential to pay the parking charge.

Viking Re-Enactment

An entertaining, educational and interactive day out suitable for all the family and fans of Vikings alike!

The Vikings are back at Stafford Castle and they are setting up camp for the weekend. This year we want to go bigger and better than ever – the return of your favourite activities is confirmed with ‘Have a go Javelin’, ‘Kiddie-Vike’, Viking talks and demonstrations such as weaving, weapon usage and cooking. Don’t miss the Viking games (such as Kubb and Nine Men Morris), Have-a-go archery, coin minting, arms and armour displays either. Everyone can look the part by visiting wound painting stall to make yourself look fearsome or perhaps more friendly by visiting our face painting stall. Each day the Vikings will gather, blow the horns, and march onward up to the Inner Bailey at the top of the site to commence in a skirmish and a larger, full battle at the end of the day. Come along and watch as the different factions vie for victory and battle with Stafford town as their backdrop and with commentating for all to follow. No matter what day you come (both if you want) you can immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of a Viking Village and for our younger guests you will be able to make a small Viking Shield in our workshop! If you’re hungry how about heading over to the Woodsmoke BBQ for a variety of options including a vegan choice, or maybe have some pizza, toasties, sausage rolls or ice cream from our other food providers.

All this and lots more…. don’t miss it!

Viking Re-Enactment takes place on Saturday the 2nd and Sunday the 3rd August 2025, between 10.00am and 4.00pm both days at Stafford Castle, Newport Road, Stafford, ST16 1DJ.

Most activities, stalls and things to see are free however we will have a small charge for the children’s workshop.

Event admission is free but there is a charge for parking if required. We strongly encourage walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing to get to the event! It is about a 30 minute walk from Stafford Railway Station, near the town centre, to Stafford Castle. The 5A bus can be caught outbound from Stafford Town Centre to Stafford Castle (Thorneyfields Lane/adj Thorneyfields Lane stops) on Sundays, throughout the duration of the event.

We have plenty of parking space at this event with an overflow parking option at King Edward VI High School. Please do not park on surrounding roads and verges nearby to Stafford Castle – this will be monitored during the event. Blue badge parking will be charged the same amount but there are allocated places for these vehicles, nearest to the event area.

Please be aware that pictures will be being taken at this event that may be used for our website or on our social media accounts.

Please bring cash if you are parking as this is essential to pay the parking charge.

WEDDINGS AT THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE

If you desire historic and exclusive surroundings in which to take your wedding vows look no further than the Ancient High House

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