Two modern shopfronts on an historic Stafford street are set to be demolished as part of the transformation of a town centre site now owned by the borough council – but the traditional market entrance will be retained.

Crabbery Street dates back several centuries and noted visitors have included Elizabeth I, who stopped at a townhouse for refreshments during her visit to the town in 1575.

Next door to the 16th century property – which later became the Noah's Ark Inn and had connections with "Rugeley Poisoner" William Palmer – is the entrance to Stafford town centre's former St John's Market.

Newer infrastructure set within the stone market entrance structure is now set to be removed as part of redevelopment of the wider site and an application form seeking permission for demolition has been submitted by Stafford Borough Council.

The application form stated: "The stone archway once formed the entrance to the former market hall and was incorporated into the Guildhall Shopping Centre development in the 1980s.

"The arched stonework includes the inscription 'St John's Market', providing lasting evidence of the site's place within the historic fabric of Stafford town centre.

"Retainment will ensure the historic elements of the entrance can continue to make a positive contribution to both Crabbery Street and the wider townscape.

"However, not all of the remaining entrance structure is historic; modern front shop infrastructure, consisting of glazing set in woodland brick frame, is built into the archways and into the former retail space.

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"The application focuses on removing these modern elements, providing a completed cleared site for redevelopment.

"In detail, there are no plans to demolish the stone archway that forms part of the frontage – it is recognised that this feature is locally held in high regard, representing part of the town centre's identity and forming a key architectural element in the frontages along Crabbery Street."

Approval for demolition of the wider Guildhall Shopping Centre was granted in 2024, but historic frontages are being retained.

A new market hall has been earmarked for the cleared site as part of Stafford Borough Council's plans to regenerate the town centre.