Historic houses · West Midlands
Ancient High House
In or near Berkswich.
Ancient High House — historic house in Stafford, England, United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Nearest railway station
- Stafford · 0.5 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit the Ancient High House, the nearest railway station is Stafford, located 0.5 km away. Entry is free, but please note that wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is ST16 2AS.
About
Ancient High House is a historic house in the United Kingdom — typically a country seat, manor, or town house with notable architecture or history. Heritage designation: Grade II* listed building. Wikidata describes it as: "historic house in Stafford, England, United Kingdom". Coordinates: 52.8062°, -2.1172°.
Photo gallery
Official information
The Ancient High House is a notable Tudor building and the largest remaining timber-framed town house in England. It serves as a museum showcasing period furniture, architectural features, and the history of the Staffordshire Yeomanry. Visitors can explore various themed rooms and exhibitions that highlight the lives of those who lived there over the centuries.
From the Wikipedia article
The Ancient High House is an Elizabethan town house located on the main street in Stafford. The house was constructed in 1595 by the Dorrington family, from local oak, which anecdotally came from the nearby Doxey Wood, and is the largest timber framed town house in England.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Many of the original timbers bear carpenter's marks indicating that the frame was pre-assembled on the ground and the joints numbered to aid the on-site construction. Some timbers have additional joint housings cut into them, which would suggest that they have been reused from an even earlier structure. It was not unheard of for a building to be dismantled and rebuilt at a different location - hence the expression to 'up-sticks', which means to move house. Richard Dorrington constructed the house in 1595 and he died two years later, leaving the house to let for several years. The Ancient High House was probably the "house which I now dwelle in" which Francis Dorrington (Mayor of Stafford)…
Visiting
The Ancient High House was opened as historic house museum in June 1986 with a collection of period room furnishings and displays, including the English Civil War, Edwardian and Victorian eras. The Ancient High House adjoins 'Shaw's House', built around 1545, and the 'Swan', with Elizabethan origins, while close by may be found St Chad's Church and the Collegiate Church of St Mary's, Stafford.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 52.8062, -2.1172
- County
- Staffordshire
- District
- Stafford
- Parish
- Stafford, unparished area
- Postcode
- ST16 2AS
- Parliamentary constituency
- Stafford
- Phone
- 01785 619131
- Established
- 1595
- Nearest railway station
- Stafford — 0.5 km
- Official site
- www.staffordbc.gov.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q4752857 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Ancient High House (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Stafford-ancient-high-house.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
The Museum of the Staffordshire Yeomanry
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The Chains Public House
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Shire Hall, Stafford
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Albert Hall
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Stafford Borough War Memorial
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Shrewsbury Arms
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Picture House
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📷 3Frequently asked questions
- Where is Ancient High House?
- Ancient High House is in Staffordshire, the West Midlands, United Kingdom (postcode ST16 2AS), in the parish of Stafford, unparished area.
- What is Ancient High House?
- Ancient High House — historic house in Stafford, England, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Ancient High House?
- The nearest railway station is Stafford, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode ST16 2AS.
- When was Ancient High House built?
- Built or established in 1595.
- Who owns Ancient High House?
- Ancient High House is owned by Stafford Borough Council.
- Is Ancient High House a listed building?
- Ancient High House is officially recognised as Grade II* listed building listed.
- Is Ancient High House free to visit?
- Yes, Ancient High House is free to enter.
- How do I get to Ancient High House?
- The nearest railway station is Stafford, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode ST16 2AS.