<img src='' title='Archives: What's On Events' alt='' id='templ_icon_' width='' height='' /> Archives: What's On Events

Description.

Workshop – Embroidery for Beginners

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.

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.

Wildlife at the Castle

A free, furry, family friendly, fantastic, fun packed day!

Join us at Stafford Castle and see the return of one of our most popular events. We will have plenty of animals for you to see including an exotic zoo with hands on opportunities, a beautiful pony, bees in an observation hive, birds of prey, alpacas and even ferrets! To help you learn all about nature and wildlife there will be plenty of stalls from both local and national charities providing information about a variety of important topics. But that’s not all! Have a look and treat yourself to some local produce, supplies, crafts and artwork from Staffordshire businesses. 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. With have-a-go archery, face painting, herb garden demonstrations, a children’s craft workshop, games, roaming entertainment, coin minting and arms/armour displays at the Castle keep, a woodland trail, cakes and jams this is every nature lovers dream.

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

Wildlife at the Castle takes place on Sunday the 11th May 2025, between 10.00am and 4.00pm. 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.

Izaak Walton’s Cottage Opening Day

Izaak Walton’s Cottage re-opens for the summer season!

If you have never visited us let us tell you all the reasons why you should…

 

🐟 Steeped in History, find out more about Izaak Walton, the man behind “The Compleat Angler”

🌳 A place to relax, unwind with peaceful surroundings. Izaak championed taking time out from busy work routines

🍰 Take a well deserved pit stop, plan it into your walks or Sunday cycling and have some light refreshments

🚗 Free Parking on site, a picnic area and beautiful gardens

 

During this opening day, we will also have some bunting, cake and topical music playing near the kitchen to commemorate VE day. Come along to sit in the sun, admire the gardens, have a slice of Victoria Sponge and reflect on the anniversary.

 

Open every Sunday from 5th May 2024 to 1st September 2024, 1pm to 5pm

Izaak Walton’s Cottage, Worston Lane, Stone, ST15 OPA

Workshop – Easter Craft and Trail

Come along to our Easter Craft and Trail this Easter weekend and see some of the trees and flowers starting to blossom.

All Children welcome! Come along and drop in to our Stafford Castle Workshop to make a fun Easter themed craft. Included is a woodland trail and quiz giving you a chance to win prizes!

Drop in anytime between 11.00am and 3.15pm, no booking required.

Book Trail

Over the Easter holidays, the rooms of the Ancient High House will be decorated to look like the scenes from popular story books. Come along during the Ancient High House’s opening hours, collect a trail workbook from the desk and then see if you can guess every book correctly!

Open during the Ancient High House’s opening hours, 10am to 4pm. Free admission.

Workshop – Children’s Rag Wreath

Want to create your own Christmas rag-wreath? Come along to our Children’s Christmas Craft at Stafford Castle on Sunday the 22nd of December!

A children’s craft workshop held at Stafford Castle!

Sunday 22nd December – drop in slots available between 11am and 3.15pm.

Cost is £5 per child (any children must be accompanied by an adult).

Please book by calling the Ancient High House on 01785 619131

Christmas Through the Ages

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).

Workshop – Halloween Craft and Trail

This fun Children’s Halloween Craft Workshop at Stafford Castle is the perfect treat to get ready for Halloween. Come along to get spooky and create your very own Halloween craft to take home. Why not also follow our spooky trail around the Castle site!

No pre-booking required. Drop in any time between 11.00am and 3.15pm.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Father Christmas at the Ancient High House

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.

Workshop – Christmas Wreath

Workshop held at Stafford Castle in the Visitor Centre.

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 the Historic Stafford Website on 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.

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).