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Middleton Hall plays host to a wide range of special events all year round in its lovely historic buildings and grounds. There’s something for everyone - browse through these pages and see what you can find! We hope you enjoy your visit.

A special placeWhen you visit Middleton Hall, you are truly walking through history.

The site is unique. It is the only place in Britain where you can see buildings dating from the late 13th through to the early 19th century.

The first manor house was built for Philip de Marmion in about 1285. Examples of buildings from each phase of the Hall’s history can still be seen, creating a rare living museum of architectural styles over 750 years.

But it is not just a building. It is place full of history.

The Hall was the home of some notable people and was visited by many famous figures, including Queen Elizabeth I, who spent two nights under its roof in 1575.

Middleton also has a very special place in the history of British science. It was here that the first ever scientific book on ornithol-ogy was written and the first substantial catalogue of British plants compiled, by Francis Willughby and John Ray.

It was badly used by its owners in the 20th century, starting with extensive gravel extraction on its estate, an activity that dominates the River Tame south of Tamworth. The buildings were allowed to decay until the Middleton Hall Trust stepped in the rescue the site and begin restoration work.

The beautiful grounds feature a lake, moat and a noted walled garden and offer a range of lovely walks. The nine-acre lake has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The hall and grounds are open to the public on Sundays from Easter to the end of September. There is a small charge for entry and for special events.

The CourtyardMiddleton Hall Courtyard, housed in

the hall’s Tudor stableyard. is open from Wednesday to Sunday all year round. It is home to an eclectic mix of shops, crafts and a cafe. Come and have a browse.

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Winter Open DaySunday 16th February11am - 3pmAdults - £3, children - free

February half term holiday signals the end of dark dreary weather and the hope of the advent of spring.

Blow away the cobwebs and burn off those winter excesses, enjoy the beautiful walks around Middleton Hall.

Middleton Pool is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, support-ing a remarkable variety of breeding birds and rich flora. See the grounds start to spring to life after the winter months with the first welcome signs of snowdrops.

Enjoy warming refreshments in the café, before you wander around the beautiful Grade II listed building steeped in local history.

Children can play nature detectives round the grounds and forage for natural materials to help us make a Middleton Hall collage, or paint winter wildlife pictures with our resident artist, or make a bird feeder to encourage birds into your garden (all materials provided).

Food & Craft MarketSunday 23rd February10am - 4pm£2 to park

Middleton Hall Food & Craft Market moves into its tenth month and continues to grow supporting local businesses with an abundance of stalls showcasing the very best of local hand-crafted items and locally produced food.

You’ll find artisan crafted accessories and vintage items and delicious food to enjoy on site or take home. There is something for all the family.

All car parking proceeds go to support the restoration of the hall and grounds to ensure this very special piece of local history can be enjoyed for generations to come.

See all market dates on page 2.

Antiques FairSunday 9th March10am - 4pm£2 admission and free parking

Middleton Hall is a fantastic backdrop for an Antiques & Collectors Fair. With dozens of stalls, in its spectacular Great Hall and splendid Ballroom, it will feature stalls selling furniture, paintings, ceramics, gold & silver ware, books, objects d’art and much more.

A café and fully licensed bar will be open throughout the day serving refreshments.

All proceeds from the day go to the Middleton Hall Restoration Fund, safeguarding seven centuries of architectural heritage.

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Wedding FairSunday 23rd March10am – 4pmEntry: FREE

Middleton Hall invites you to their Spring Wedding Fair hosted by James Jones Events. Please join us at Staffordshire’s hidden gem of a wedding venue to meet hand-picked wedding suppliers who will be offering inspirational ideas for your big day.

The fair will include a number of different zones including vintage chic, the boys’ corner, the food corner, pretty little things and much more.

Guided tours of the hall and grounds will be available through-out the day with Middleton Hall’s Wedding Co-ordinator.

There will also be a catwalk show featuring bridal wear and men’s formalwear together with live music. Brides will receive gift bags on arrival and all guests will receive free welcome drinks.

Food & Craft MarketSunday 30th March10am – 4pmEntry: £2 car parking

The place to go for delicious local food and artisan crafts.

See page 2 for further details.

Wedding Open HouseSaturday 5th April1pm – 4pmEntry: FREE

Enjoy a unique opportunity to see Middleton Hall dressed for a wedding ceremony and wedding breakfast, and prospective brides and grooms are invited to visit to begin the creation of their own unique and special day.

Take in the grandeur of The Great Hall with its sweeping stair-case for the bride’s grand entrance, experience the magnificent ballroom set for a formal reception and picture yourself dancing the evening away with your friends and family.

Enjoy a complimentary Bucks Fizz before you stroll around the fragrant walled gardens, the hidden pools and pretty wood-land to choose the perfect spot to record your memorable day.

Becky Pugh, Middleton Hall Wedding Co-ordinator will be on hand to guide you through your day and help with ideas and contacts.

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Napoleonic War Re-enactment DaySunday 13th April11am to 4pm.Entry: adults £3, concessions £2.50, children - free

Come along and meet the Napoleonic era Rifleman prepar-ing to leave for active service in the Peninsula. Visit the living history camp and experience the sights, sounds and smells of soldiers cooking, cleaning their weapons and preparing to leave for Portugal. Watch musket firing and get involved by drilling with the soldiers!

The re-enacters represent a battalion which fought all the way through Spain and Portugal into France in the early 1800s, earning 13 battle honours in total.

Easter Family Fun DayMonday 21st April11am – 4pmEntry: adults £5, concessions £3.50, children £1

Head to Middleton Hall for some Easter bank holiday fun for all the family.

Enjoy performances from Flux Dance Theatre and traditional English dancing from Middleton Dancers, which you can join in with too if you like.

There will be a children’s entertainer, lots of children’s crafts and activities. You can join our Easter Egg hunt following the trail of Alice in Wonderland characters hidden in glade.

Traditional Easter cut outs will make for some great children’s photo opportunities.

Plus an Easter bonnet parade, bouncy castle and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Lots of traditional food stalls on offer too, from popcorn, to crepes, to ice cream to hot cross buns.

Food & Craft MarketSunday 27th April10am – 4pmEntry: £2 car parking

The place to go for deliciouslocal food and artisan crafts.

See page 2 for further details.

Middleton Motors MonthlySunday 4th May10am to 1pm.Entry: £2 donation to show your car, general public £2 car park-ing (all proceeds go to support the restoraiton of Middleton Hall)

For vehicles that make you go MMM…Do you own a vehicle that turns heads? Old, new, fast, slow,

big, small... If you love it – come and show it - at Middleton Hall on the first Sunday of every month.

Traders and Autojumblers if you would like to exhibit contact us on 01827 283095.

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May Day FestivalSunday 5th May11am – 4pmEntry: adults £5, concessions £3.50, children £1

Traditional Family Fun! Moseley Morris Dancers. May pole dancing to join in with. An organ grinder and a strolling minstrel. Children’s crafts and outdoor activities, including a Green Man treasure trail in the grounds. Lots of traditional food stalls on of-fer, from popcorn, to crepes, to ice cream.

John Ray Botany DaySunday 11th May11am to 4pm.Entry: adults £3, concessions £2.50, children - free

The grounds of Middleton Hall, noted for the variety of wild flowers, plants and trees, is one of 4000 Sites of Special Scien-tific Interest in England. Come and celebrate the life and work of John Ray, who wrote the first ever scientific book on ornithology, and compiled the first significant catalogue of British plants, while living at the hall. Visit his museum and listen to talks to learn about his life & work. Lots of nature related crafts and out-door activities for children. Music from a woodwind group. Watch our skilled volunteers at work with wood.

Velocette MotorbikesSunday 18th May11am to 4pmEntry: adults £3, concessions £2.50, children - free

See a fabulous display of these Classic Bikes and talk to members of the owners club. They were the first police motor-bikes which seems fitting at the home of The Peel Museum at Middleton Hall.

Food & Craft MarketSunday 25th May10am – 4pmEntry: £2 car parking

The place to go for deliciouslocal food and artisan crafts.

See page 2 for further details.

Spring Watch DayBank Holiday Monday 26th May11am – 4pmEntry: adults £5, concessions £3.50, children £1

Children’s activity workshops, make a bird feeder, Mini Beast hunting, Habitat building. Bird and animals displays from Crit-terish Allsorts, Buzzards Valley and Eclipse Falconry. Talks on garden birds from David Tideswell. And lots of stalls selling a variety of wildlife themed items and activities.

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Middleton Motors MonthlySunday 1st June10am to 1pm.Entry: £2 donation to show your car, general public £2 per car

For vehicles that make you go MMM…for further details, see page 7.

Peel History Fair Sunday 8th June11am - 4pmEntry: adult £5, concessions £3.50, Children & students - free.

The Peel Society will hold its 3rd annual History Fair. The Hall will have a selection of local history society stands where visitors can find out about their favourite branch of history. An innovation this year is two short keynote lectures will be delivered, “ Assess-ing the greatness of Sir Robert Peel” by Lord Lexden O.B.E., Official Historian of the Conservative Party and “The relationship between Drayton Manor and Middleton Hall” by Professor Ian Dillamore.

Historic Vehicle DaySunday 15th June11am – 4pmEntry: adults £5, concessions £3.50, children £1

Middleton Hall’s shady glade is a superb backdrop to a fantastic display of historic vehicles. Picnic in the glade and dance to the music of George Huxley and his jazzmen.

National Garden Scheme DaySunday 22nd June1pm to 5pmEntry: adults £3, concessions £2.50, children - free.

Come and enjoy the peaceful and magical atmosphere of our walled garden, dating back to the early 18th century. Stroll through the orchard, take in the glade and sunken garden. Meet the volunteer gardeners who dedicate their time to the conser-vation of these beautiful gardens. Plants for sale. Music from Sutton Community Choir. Proceeds to the NGS.

Food & Craft MarketSunday 29th June10am – 4pmEntry: £2 car parking

The place to go for delicious local food and artisan crafts.

See page 2 for further details.

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Middleton Motors MonthlySunday 6th July10am to 1pm.Entry: £2 donation to show your car, general public £2 per car

For vehicles that make you go MMM…for further details, see page 7.

Intimate Theatre - ‘Candida’Wednesday 9th JulyTickets £10, to include refreshments.7pm for 7.30pm

We continue to be supported by the very generous and very talented theatre group who give their time freely to generate income for the restoration of the hall. Tonight performing Bernard Shaw’s comedy Candida.

The Great Middleton Hall Bake OffSunday 13th July11am - 4pmEntry: adults £3, concessions £2, children - free

It’s baking day at Middleton Hall! Lots of stalls and activities all to do with baking. Plus plenty to get involved with and taste! Have a go yourself at cake decorating. Competitions in different baking categories. Activities for children.

Wedding Open DaySunday 20th July1pm – 4pmEntry : FREE

Enjoy a unique opportunity to see Middleton Hall dressed for a wedding ceremony and wedding breakfast, and prospective brides and grooms are invited to visit to begin the creation of their own unique and special day.

Take in the grandeur of The Great Hall with its sweeping stair-case for the bride’s grand entrance, experience the magnificent ballroom set for a formal reception and picture yourself dancing the evening away with your friends and family.

Enjoy a complimentary Bucks Fizz before you stroll around the fragrant walled gardens, the hidden pools and pretty wood-land to choose the perfect spot to record your memorable day.

Becky Pugh, Middleton Hall Wedding Co-ordinator will be on hand to guide you through your day and help with ideas and contacts.

Food & Craft MarketSunday 27th July10am – 4pmEntry: £2 car parking

The place to go for deliciouslocal food and artisan crafts.

See page 2 for further details.

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From unloved ruin to historic gemFor most of the 20th century, Middleton Hall was allowed to fall into serious decay. When in the late 1970s a group of ramblers came across its crumbling shell, the hall had stood abandoned since it was sold in the mid-1920s, to a rubble magnate. Much of its 400-acre es-tate was turned into gravel quarries while the buildings became ruins.

By the time Middleton was given Grade II-listed status, its grand windows were smashed, its woodwork rotted, and some roofs and floors were missing.

But for the past 30 years, Middleton has been transformed thanks to the loving care of its volunteers. Since the Middleton Hall Restora-tion Trust, a registered charity, was set up in 1980, volunteers have put in hundreds of thousands of hours’ work to rebuild, renovate and restore the site. And there is still a huge amount of work to be done.

Paying visitors and special events are crucial to the hall’s survival. While grants, including heritage lottery funds, can be accessed for large projects, the maintenance of the hall is costly and cannot attract such funding. All profits from events held here go to support the trust’s restoration and conservation work.

Why not get involved too? We need volunteers to help with events, the gardens, admin and a host of other tasks. Just ring or email to find out how you could help keep this special place alive.

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Middleton Motors MonthlySunday 3rd AugustFrom 10am to 1pm.Entry: £2 donation to show your car; General Public £2 per car

For vehicles that make you go MMM…for further details, see page 7.

Middleton MuttsSunday 10th August11am - 4pmEntry: adult £3, concessions £2, children - free

Tons of entertainment from a dog display team plus lots of stalls and activities sure to appeal to everyone who loves their dogs.

Peel Society’s MG Car DaySunday 17th August11am - 4pmEntry: adults £3, concessions £2, children - free

The Peel Society, in conjunction with the MG Octagon Car Club, will hold a rally for owners of MG Cars. Cars from the be-ginning of this famous British marque to more recent examples will be on show. The Amington Band will add to the atmosphere with its masterly interpretations of old favourites from the brass band repertoire.

Traditional Family Fun DayBank Holiday Monday 25th August11am to 4pm.Entry: adults £5, concessions £3.50, children £1

Traditional games, stalls and children’s activities - for a proper. old-fashioned family day out.

Have a go on our coconut shy, hook a duck, splat the rat and many more. Meet Minnie & Mickey Mouse. Bouncy Castle. Face painting. Music from Swing for You.

Lots of traditional food stalls on offer, from popcorn, to crepes, to ice cream.

Food & Craft MarketSunday 31st August10am – 4pmParking: £2 per car

The place to go for deliciouslocal food and artisan crafts.

See page 2 for further details.

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Middleton Motors MonthlySunday 7th SeptemberFrom 10am to 1pm.Entry: £2 donation to show your car; General Public £2 per car

For vehicles that make you go MMM…for further details, see page 7.

Heritage Open DaySunday 14th September11am - 4pmEntry: FREE for allFree Routemaster bus travelling between Tamworth and Mid-dleton Hall all day Antiques Valuation, with Charles Hanson (of TV’s Antiques Roadshow and Bargain Hunt)Remote controlled WW2 tanks l Metal DetectingSkirmish by Reinactment SuppliesWorking Artist l Working smithyPerformances from the Early Music Group Holborne ConsortCraft demonstrations including spinning, rag rugs, lacemaking, wood carvingChildren’s historical crafts, brass rubbings and painting

Armstrong Siddley ShowSunday 21st September11am to 4pm.Entry: adult £3, concessions £2.50, children - free.

See a fabulous display of these Classic Cars and talk to mem-bers of the owners club.

Food & Craft MarketSunday 28th September10am – 4pmParking: £2 per car

The place to go for delicious local food and artisan crafts.

See page 2 for further details.Plus: the L E Velo Club Rally

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Middleton Motors MonthlySunday 5th OctoberFrom 10am to 1pm.Entry: £2 donation to show your car; General Public £2 per car

For vehicles that make you go MMM…for further details, see page 7.

The Singular Exploits of Sherlock HolmesFriday 10th October7.30pm for 8pmTickets £12, including refreshments

The Don’t Go Into The Cellar Theatre Group return by popular demand following their success last year with Warning to the Curious The Ghost Stories of M.R.James. This year performing The Singular Exploits of Sherlock Holmes.

Wedding FairSunday 12th October10am – 4pmEntry: FREE

Middleton Hall invites you to its Autumn Wedding Fair hosted by James Jones Events.

Please join us at Staffordshire’s hidden gem of a wedding venue to meet hand-picked wedding suppliers who will be offering inspirational ideas for your big day.

The fair will include several different zones including vintage chic, boys’ corner, food corner, pretty little things and much more.

Guided tours of the hall and grounds will be available through-out the day with Middleton Hall’s Wedding Co-ordinator.

There will also be a catwalk show featuring bridal wear and men’s formalwear together with live music. Brides will receive gift bags on arrival and all guests will receive free welcome drinks.

Antiques FairSunday 19th October10am - 4pmEntry: £2 and free parking

Middleton Hall is a fantastic backdrop for an Antiques & Col-lectors Fair. With dozens of stalls, in its spectacular Great Hall and splendid Ballroom, it will feature furniture, paintings, ceram-ics, gold & silver ware, books, objects d’art and much more.

A café and fully licensed bar will be serving refreshments. All proceeds from the day go to the Middleton Hall Restoration

Fund, safeguarding seven centuries of architectural heritage.

Food & Craft MarketSunday 26th October10am – 4pmParking: £2 per car

The place to go for deliciouslocal food and artisan crafts.

See page 2 for further details.

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Jazz NightFriday 14th November7pm for 7.30pmTickets £12, including refreshments

George Huxley’s All Star Jazz Band has, over the past few years been acclaimed throughout Britain as one of our very fin-est bands, headlining at festivals everywhere.

Firm favourites at Middleton Hall, you can expect George and his men to bring the house down again with their lively jazz set.

Food & Craft Market - Christmas ExtravanganzaSunday 30th November10am – 4pmParking: £2 per car

All your usual delicious local food producers and makers and artisan craftspeople plus gifts, live music, mulled wine, hot chestnuts and the chance to visit Santa in his grotto!

See page 2 for further details.

Intimate Theatre Christmas VoicesWednesday 3rd December7pm for 7.30pmTickets £12.50, including refreshments

Christmas variety show entertainment at its best - Intimate Theatre’s festive performance has become a firm favourite.

The show brings people back year after year and offers the very best start to the Christmas season - it is guaranteed to imbue you with festive spirit!

Carol Concert featuring the CarolinersSunday 14th December6.30pm for 7pmTickets:£7

An entertaining and humorous mix of Christmas songs, both traditional and contemporary.

Group VisitsThe Trust’s resources are available for group visits on any date

when there is no prior booking. Specialist groups interested in na-ture, architecture, gardening, history, fine arts and even technology will find our hall and grounds fascinating.

The venue also offer a good day out for general interest groups, such as Women’s Institutes, Mother’s Unions, Church Groups and residents of protected accommodation.

Refreshments could be as little as tea, or coffee and biscuits, or as much as a gourmet dinner. For details and to book, please ring or email us.

AccessThe grounds and the ground floor of the buildings are acces-

sible to everyone. However, we regret there is no disabled access to the first floor of the hall. Our historic buildings do not lend themselve to the installation of lifts or ramps.

DirectionsMiddleton Hall is lies between The Belfry and Drayton Manor Park, well served by the M42 motorway and about five miles from Tamworth railway station. The Belfry is at the junction of the A446 and A4091 and Drayton Manor is about four miles north on the A4091 from this junction. Middleton Hall is between the two on the right hand side when driving north.

From Tamworth: follow the signs to Drayton Manor and and con-tinue south on the A4091 to the Hall, which is on the left.

From Sutton Coldfield: take the A453 to Bassetts Pole (the five-way junction on the map), take the A446, then take the first left turn to Middleton village. At the T-junction in the village, turn left and continue to the A4091. Cross the A4091 with care, and head straight into the Hall drive.

Middleton Hall TrustMiddleton Hall, Middleton, Tamworth B78 2AE

Tel: 01827 283095Email: middletonhalltrust@btconnect.com

www.middleton-hall.co.uk

Middleton Hallbuildings, walled garden and groundsOpen: Sundays; April to September; times vary - please see website for details

Middleton Hall Courtyardfood, antique and craft shops; Thai therapist; dog grooming parlour; cafeOpen: all year; Wednesdays to Sundays; 10am to 4pm

How to Find Us