Pictures of Ancient High House

a Historic Building in the town of Stafford, in the county of Staffordshire

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About Ancient High House

Dominating Stafford's Greengate Street, is an impressive Elizabethan building that has stood at the centre of the town for over 400 years. It's historic nature makes it Stafford's most important building, but its superb decorative black and white facade makes it the town's most distinctive and attractive property.

The house has a fluctuating history, throughout the centuries some of the region's most illustrious personages have occupied the High House which was originally built for the Dorrington family in 1595. The following century the house was visited by King Charles I and his nephew Prince Rupert at the start of the English Civil War. In 1643, the house was taken over by the Parliamentarians who used it as a place of imprisonment for captive Royalists.

Later in the 17th century the Snyed family were in occupation, and in the 18th century Mr. Brooke Crutchley lived in the house. He divided the property, and Samuel Twigg, a wealthy mercer, lived in the other half.

Building work of the 19th century seriously weakened the structure of the property and for a time it was left to deteriorate until Stafford Borough Council recognised the buildings historic potential and its use as a museum. A programme of restoration began, this resulted in the preservation of the property, and today visitors can enjoy seeing this lovely old house with rooms set out very much as they looked in days of yore.

The Civil War room commemorates the visit of King Charles I and Prince Rupert. This beautiful room is dappled with light streaming through a stained glass window containing the coat of arms of the Snyed family. The window was purchased by the Friends of the Ancient High House.

Another room is the splendid Victorian room, a beautifully proportioned and exquisitely furnished room which is used for evening entertainment.

The Ancient High House has been the home of The Staffordshire Yeomanry Museum since 1993. This provides visitors with an exciting peep into the history of The Queen's Own Royal Regiment with a display covering 200 years of regimental tradition. The focal point of the museum is the Guidon, or Standard of the Yeomanry. It is at the centre of maps detailing the battle honours of the regiment, 19 in total.

Also to be seen are samples of wallpapers from the 18th and 19th century, these were discovered when the property was being restored by Stafford Borough Council.

The Ancient High House offers an interesting time for all who visit - it is a must for military enthusiasts, with the added bonus of historic interest covering over 500 years.

With the exception of special events, admission to the museum is free.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Ancient High House.

Planning a visit? Please help support this website by booking your hotels near Ancient High House and uploading your pictures.
Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Ancient High House

Shire Hall Gallery	(0.1 miles, 0.1 km)	Pictures
Shugborough Estate	(4.4 miles, 7.1 km, direction E)	Pictures
Cannock Chase Country Park	(4.7 miles, 7.5 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Chartley Castle	(6.4 miles, 10.3 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Weston Park	(10.7 miles, 17.3 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Monkey Forest	(11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction N)	Pictures
Trentham Gardens	(11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction N)	Pictures
Parkhall Country Park	(13.5 miles, 21.8 km, direction N)	Pictures
Royal Air Force Museum	(13.9 miles, 22.3 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Croxden Abbey	(14.0 miles, 22.5 km, direction NE)	Pictures

All attractions in Staffordshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Ancient High House

Stafford, in the county of Staffordshire (0.1 miles, 0.2 km)
Set in a landscape of contrasts with constantly changing scenery from the Royal hunting forests of Cannock Chase to the breweries...
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Walton-on-the-Hill, in the county of Staffordshire (2.5 miles, 4.0 km, direction SE)
Walton on the hill is a pretty village a short distance from the favoured town of Epsom and the famous "downs" racecourse.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Cannock, in the county of Staffordshire (9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction SE)
Think of Cannock and nearly always there springs to life a vision of the wonderful landscape of Cannock Chase, originally a giant "Royal Forest" gradually reduced in size and grazed by numerous flocks of sheep until the turn of the 20th century.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Tong, in the county of Shropshire (12.5 miles, 20.1 km, direction SW)
Fortunately, this attractive village was saved from the ravages of traffic by the building of the A41 By-Pass which was built around 1966.
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Cheadle, a Historic Market Town in the county of Staffordshire (13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction NE)
Cheadle has several fine black and white half timbered buildings in the town that date from the 16th-century
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Alton, in the county of Staffordshire (15.1 miles, 24.3 km, direction NE)
The village has many elegant stone buildings, and there is a circular lock-up and the romantic ruins of a 12th-century castle.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Wolverhampton, in the county of West Midlands (15.2 miles, 24.4 km, direction S)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Denstone, in the county of Staffordshire (15.3 miles, 24.6 km, direction NE)
Denstone is a peaceful village set in the midst of rural Staffordshire countryside, where farm meadows are watered from a myriad of sparkling rivers flowing down from the Peak District National Park.
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Stoke-on-Trent, in the county of Staffordshire (15.4 miles, 24.8 km, direction N)
Town known best as "the potteries" but in reality Stoke-on-Trent is a 1906 amalgamation of six towns, each of which still maintain their own individuality and character.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Sudbury, in the county of Derbyshire (15.7 miles, 25.3 km, direction E)
The village of Sudbury lies in a landscape of contrasts where old Royal hunting grounds meet with the industrial heritage of 19th-century England.
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All towns in Staffordshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Stafford Station	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
M6 Junction 14	(1.8 miles, 2.9 km, direction NW)
M6 Junction 13	(3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction S)
Norton Bridge Station	(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction NW)
Birmingham International Airport	(29.2 miles, 46.9 km, direction SE)
East Midlands Airport	(33.0 miles, 53.1 km, direction E)
Ancient High House to London	(123.3 miles, 198.4 km, direction SE)

Accommodation & Hotels near Ancient High House

Hotel Name
The Swan Hotel	(0.0 miles, 0.1 km)
The Moat House Classic	(0.1 miles, 0.1 km)
Best Western Tillington Hall	(1.3 miles, 2.1 km, direction NW)
Express By Holiday Inn Stafford M6 Junction 13	(2.6 miles, 4.1 km, direction S)
Quality Hotel Stafford	(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction S)
Stone House Hotel	(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction N)
The Roman Way	(9.1 miles, 14.7 km, direction S)
Somerford Hall	(9.1 miles, 14.7 km, direction S)
Ramada Birmingham North, Cannock	(10.0 miles, 16.0 km, direction SE)
Featherstone Farm Hotel	(10.9 miles, 17.6 km, direction S)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts