Betley Court
Encyclopedia
Betley Court is an 18th century manor house in the ancient village of Betley, near Newcastle-under-Lyme
, Staffordshire
. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The house was built for John Cradock in 1716 and was later altered by architect George Wilkinson. In 1783 extensive gardens, including parterres and water features, were laid out by William Emes. In 1809 the property was largely rebuilt in a two storey seven bay Georgian style to designs by John Nash
. It was further improved in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by architect Douglas Caroe.
The manor passed by female descent to the Fenton and Fletcher
families and as a result of the 1814 marriage of Elizabeth Fenton to Francis Twemlow, to the Fletcher-Twemlow family.
The house fell into disuse following the death in 1976 of Charles Fletcher-Twemlow. The Grade II listed stable block was converted to residential use and new houses were built in the grounds. New owners have since carried out extensive refurbishment to the House.
In 2008 the current owners launched a garden restoration not-for-profit membership organisation called 'The Emes Society' (after William Emes - see above) with the intention of looking after the 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) garden and developing it for the 21st Century, with open days for the public including, e.g. a Bluebell Walk. The formal part of the garden includes a magnificent Cedar of Lebanon planted by William Barron.
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a market town in Staffordshire, England, and is the principal town of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme. It is part of The Potteries Urban Area and North Staffordshire. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 73,944...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The house was built for John Cradock in 1716 and was later altered by architect George Wilkinson. In 1783 extensive gardens, including parterres and water features, were laid out by William Emes. In 1809 the property was largely rebuilt in a two storey seven bay Georgian style to designs by John Nash
John Nash (architect)
John Nash was a British architect responsible for much of the layout of Regency London.-Biography:Born in Lambeth, London, the son of a Welsh millwright, Nash trained with the architect Sir Robert Taylor. He established his own practice in 1777, but his career was initially unsuccessful and...
. It was further improved in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by architect Douglas Caroe.
The manor passed by female descent to the Fenton and Fletcher
Boughey Baronets
The Fletcher, later Boughey Baronetcy, of Newcastle-under-Lyme in the County of Stafford, is a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 24 August 1798 for Thomas Fletcher, of Betley Court, Staffordshire, High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1783 and 1789 and Deputy Lieutenant of the...
families and as a result of the 1814 marriage of Elizabeth Fenton to Francis Twemlow, to the Fletcher-Twemlow family.
The house fell into disuse following the death in 1976 of Charles Fletcher-Twemlow. The Grade II listed stable block was converted to residential use and new houses were built in the grounds. New owners have since carried out extensive refurbishment to the House.
In 2008 the current owners launched a garden restoration not-for-profit membership organisation called 'The Emes Society' (after William Emes - see above) with the intention of looking after the 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) garden and developing it for the 21st Century, with open days for the public including, e.g. a Bluebell Walk. The formal part of the garden includes a magnificent Cedar of Lebanon planted by William Barron.