Stafford’s oldest and most iconic building, the Ancient High House, is to become a venue for wedding ceremonies.
Stafford Borough Council is currently in discussions with the county office of registrars to finalise arrangements for hiring the venue as soon as next year.
The council heritage department already hires out the town’s other historic venue, Izaak Walton Cottage in Shallowford, and dozens of happy couples have tied the knot in the tiny 17th Century house. Now the plans to license the High House will mean history buffs can travel from far and wide to enjoy the romanticism on offer at Stafford’s historical sites.
Lisa Heaton, tourism and heritage manager for the borough council, said: “The wedding services are very successful at the Izaak Walton Cottage because of the lovely gardens which people like to use for photographs.
“The only difficulty we have encountered is the cottage is limited to 16 guests for health and safety reasons.
“It is perfect for intimate weddings and is very popular for second marriages, but now we are looking to extend this to the Ancient High House.”
The Ancient High House is a Grade II listed building which is the largest half-timbered town house in the country. There are three floors and an attic and each of the rooms is set in a different period.
Happy couples could step back in time and enjoy a Stuart ceremony or they could wed in the Civil War room, where King Charles I’s visit to the town is commemorated. The king made the building his HQ where he issued military orders to his troops and nephew, Prince Rupert of the Rhine.
She said the hire rate for the cottage is currently set at £250 and the High House is expected to set a similar price.
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