Stafford

Stafford is a market town and the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies about 15 miles north of Wolverhampton, 15 miles south of Stoke-on-Trent and 24 miles north-west of Birmingham. In the central shopping district of Stafford there are several examples of historic architecture, perhaps the best example of which is the Elizabethan Ancient High House, an oak-beamed town house that dates from the sixteenth century which was used as a prison during the English Civil War. Nowadays it is occupied by a popular museum showcasing local heritage. On the edge of town lies the impressive Stafford Castle - rebuilt in the nineteenth century after many centuries of disrepair since its original construction as a Norman fort - which offers interactive displays charting the castle's nine hundred year history. Stafford is also within easy reach of several stunning country manor houses and also the huge collection of military and civil aircraft based at RAF Cosford.