Plans have been lodged to restore one of Birmingham’s most beautiful old houses – used as a swingers’ club – back to its former glory.

The historic Stratford House, which dates back to 1601, was gutted in a suspected arson attack on December 28 last year, leaving its upper rooms and roof ablaze.

Work has already begun to restore the building which hit the headlines last year after it had been transformed into a club for swingers and fetish fans, complete with a dungeon.

Architects have pledged to salvage as much of the historic rafters in its intricate roof as possible.

Meanwhile, West Midlands Police continue investigations into how the fire, which needed 22 firefighters to extinguish, was started.

Plans submitted to Birmingham City Council say the fire damange was “extensive” and wet rot has also become well established.

Fire damage at Stratford House, Stratford Place, Highgate
Fire damage at Stratford House, Stratford Place, Highgate

It adds: “The dwelling suffered an arson attack on Monday, December 22, which caused extensive damage to the roof structure extending from the west gable end up to the line of the central chimney stack.

“Enabling works have commenced, with the agreement of Historic England and the Birmingham City Council Conservation Officer, to erect a scaffold and protective scaffold lift. Roof coverings have been stripped from the affected area of roof and the lath and plaster ceilings have been removed from below the rafters, to expose the fire damaged roof, to enable an assessment of the extent of damage and assisting in the recording of the roof structure.”

The house, just off the Moseley Road, is dated 1601 and was built for Ambrose Rotton and his wife Bridget both of whose initials are carved into the door head of the entrance porch.

The venue was granted temporary planning permission to operate as a private members’ club and transformed into the Tudor Lounge Club in January 2015.

It offers members adult parties and boasts its own fetish dungeon, with its website boasting it is the UK’s most exclusive swingers venue, with pictures of scantily-clad women, including UK porn stars.