I Was Born In Crewe But Stafford Is My Home Town. Come Along And Have A Look Around...... Stafford Castle The town of Stafford gained its name over 1000 years ago; the present county town is on a site of an early settlement, on an island in the middle of marshes. The name Stafford is of Saxon origin and means 'a ford at a landing place' -Staith-ford.
Ethelfleda, (daughter of Alfred the Great and widow of Elthelred the Earl of Mercia) fortified the settlement in AD 913 to keep out the Danes. In 1206 King John granted the town a charter recognising its borough status.
Stafford castle, which would have dominated the Town when built, occupies an impressive position overlooking Stafford. It is a fine example of a motte and bailey castle dating back to the late 11th Century. The castle had a stone keep added in 1200. The castle was rebuilt around 1350 but was destroyed during the civil war. A gothic house was built on the site in the early 19th century but now only ruins remain.
The second historic attraction is the Ancient High House in the centre of Stafford. This is the largest timber framed house in England and was built by the Dorrington family in 1595. It is now a Visitor and Tourist Information Centre.
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