Steve Cliffe, a former Stockport councillor, was the founding member of Stockport Heritage and Stockport Heritage Magazine circa 1987. He and his late wife, Jean, co-ordinated the efforts of Stockport Heritage to persuade English Heritage and the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council to support the purchase and restoration of semi-derelict Staircase House, a 15th-century merchant's townhouse, as the town museum.

The house was finally restored with a £4 million grant and opened to the public in 2005 as a living example of the development of vernacular architecture. It has since won Civic Trust and architectural awards[which?].

In his book, Stockport History & Guide, published in 2005, he details the struggle to get the project off the ground. In February 2018 Steve Cliffe was given a community hero award by Stockport Metropolitan Council for his role in helping save Staircase House and promoting heritage within the borough.

Sources

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  • Stockport: a History, Arrowsmith P.,1997 ISBN 0-905164-99-7
  • Stockport History & Guide, Cliffe S.,2005 ISBN 0-7524-3525-6
  • Stockport Express 1987-2009 www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/s/1187107_publisher_is_left_out_of_pocket
  • Stockport Express Jul 26, 2017 www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news_last_edition_of_heritage_after_30_years
  • Stockport MBC Feb, 2018 www.stockport.gov.uk/_community_heroes_scheme