Biddulph Grange

Details

BIDDULPH C.P. BIDDULPH GRANGE SJ 85 NE 7/2 Biddulph Grange 20.3.74 GV II*

Country house. The house of 1848-60 for John Bateman overlays an earlier farmhouse; virtually replaced by the present grandiloquent mansion of 1897 by John Bower. The former is yellow brick and render with slate roofs, the latter is built of sandstone ashlar with lead roofs and brick chimneys. The style employed is a revived English Baroque. Garden front: in 3 parts: the Main Elevation is 3 storeys rising in centre to attic storey under pediment; second floor cill-string, cornice and parapet, balustraded between sides and centre which have urn finials. 10-bay front with outer and central 2-bay breaks flanked by pilasters, the centre break has also a central pilaster. Glazing bar sashes in architraves, cornices to first floor centre windows, antae to centre of window heads of outer bays; alternate triangular and segmental pediments to ground floor windows in pairs; understated entrance to left in architrave and with bracketted cornice. Irregularly placed balustraded tower (?belvedere or water tower) to right of centre and set back unbalances the composition. To left, one of the surviving portions of Bateman's house, 2 storeys, raised quoins, Italianate, irregular 2+2 window arrangement with 2 full- height hipped square bays (tripartite windows); principal feature is the projecting semi-circular-headed domed porch to left with paired columns and full entablature marking the position of Bateman's study; the left- hand wing is set back and has round-headed plate-glass sashes in rusticated surrounds. To right, further projecting irregular bay of 2 round-arch windows and corbelled balcony, decorative frieze and cornice all built out over a garden path. Entrance front: 3 parts to right of 3 storeys project progressively towards the centre and elaborate port-cochère round- arched with twinned Corinthian columns set back from angles surmounted by balustraded parapet with urn finials. Interior: the 1897 house has a splendid staircase with massive marble Ionic columns embraced by semi- circular bays of a balustraded landing and 3-tiered staircase behind with stained glass lighting first landing; coffered ceiling to otherwise plain hall. More important is Bateman's study to the south, French- inspired. Parquet floor, part-mirrored walls, flat-domed centre to ceiling and much gilt enrichment; pedimented doorcases. The room is set behind the domed porch and over the cascade of steps (q.v.) which lead out to Bateman's miniature landscape park. John Bateman, the horticulturist, started Biddulph Grange in 1848 from an unpromising farmhouse set in a marsh. He had already commenced his horticultural career at his Father.'s house, Knypersley Hall (q.v.), notably the culture of orchids. Although the architect of Biddulph Grange is unknown, much of Bateman's enterprise was worked out with his friend, the painter E.W. Cooke, with whom he shared a passion for ferns. Work was completed to both house and gardens by 1860; Bateman, having exhausted his funds derived from his Father's pump manufactury, was forced to relinquish it. Heath, a mine owner purchased the house and had it considerably enlarged after a severe fire, completing the work in 1897, the year of Bateman's death.

Listing NGR: SJ8923459207

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

275207

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 38 Staffordshire,

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.