Biddulph
Encyclopedia
Biddulph is a town in Staffordshire
, England
, north of Stoke-on-Trent
and south east of Congleton
, Cheshire
.
bī dylfe = "beside the pit or quarry". Some have said that the name Biddulph is a corruption of the Saxon Bidulfe, signifying Wolf Slayer, and as a result the Biddulph family crest is a wolf rampant
.
Biddulph has one high school
(ages 13 to 16) with a sixth form
(ages 16 to 18). Called Biddulph High School, it was awarded Sports College
status in 2002. It has since gained Technology College
status. Biddulph also has two middle school
s: Woodhouse Middle School and James Bateman Junior High School (formerly Park Middle School), serving pupils aged 9–13. These are fed by several first schools, such as Kingsfield First School, Knypersley First School, Squirrel Hayes First School, Oxhey First School, and several more.
In addition to the supermarket development, a number of derelict and semi-derelict buildings are currently being refurbished or rebuilt by the local Councils and private owners. These are in line with the intentions set out in the Town Centre Area Action Plan (2007), which aims to reverse the spiral of decline that has threatened the long-term vaiability of the town centre since the early 1990s.
A new 3000 square metre primary health facility for the North Staffordshire Primary Care Trust is also planned for the town centre as part of the ongoing regeneration and investment programme.
A new cafe for youngsters, 'Biddulph Young People’s Place' opened in March 2011 at Kingsfield First School after a year of planning and fund-raising.
Biddulph Post Office closed on Friday 10th June 2011, the eight Post Office staff and customers alike have yet to be told if the office is to re open. A source from the Biddulph Post Office staff said "We haven't been told anything; we are waiting to hear if it will open again just as much as customers are. We know there is a demand for a Post Office because we can't walk down the street without getting stopped. People keep asking us when it's going to open to which we have no answer." Staffordshire Moorlands council are not giving any information other than the Post Office helpline phone number which when called are not able to give any further details at this moment in time. Several rumours are being put about Biddulph including... the Office shall be moved into Sainsbury's, it's being moved into Barclays old premises and that it shall re open where it is but closed off from the shop. Even if the Post Office is moved to another location I am sure it would be impossible for it to happen over night. Biddulph waits to discover the fate of its much needed commodity.
and Biddulph Moor
, there are ancient burial mounds; evidence of the English Civil War
; the bubonic plague
; Black Bull Colliery; tombs of possible Crusader
knights; an Iron Age
fort; and the site of a meeting of the Methodist movement with the Wesleys.
Biddulph is also home to the Biddulph Grange
, a house and landscaped gardens owned by the National Trust
.
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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, north of Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
and south east of Congleton
Congleton
Congleton is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Dane, to the west of the Macclesfield Canal and 21 miles south of Manchester. It has a population of 25,750.-History:The first settlements in...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
.
Origin of the name
Biddulph's name may come from Anglo-SaxonOld English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
bī dylfe = "beside the pit or quarry". Some have said that the name Biddulph is a corruption of the Saxon Bidulfe, signifying Wolf Slayer, and as a result the Biddulph family crest is a wolf rampant
Attitude (heraldry)
In heraldry, an attitude is the position in which an animal, fictional beast, mythical creature, human or human-like being is emblazoned as a charge, supporter or crest. Many attitudes apply only to predatory beasts and are exemplified by the beast most frequently found in heraldry — the lion. ...
.
Education
In common with other parts of the area administered by Staffordshire LEA, the Middle School system operates in Biddulph.Biddulph has one high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
(ages 13 to 16) with a sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
(ages 16 to 18). Called Biddulph High School, it was awarded Sports College
Sports College
Sports Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, PE, sports and dance. Schools that successfully apply to the Specialist Schools Trust and become Sports...
status in 2002. It has since gained Technology College
Technology College
Technology College is a term used in the United Kingdom for a secondary specialist school that focuses on design and technology, mathematics and science. These were the first type of specialist schools, beginning in 1994. In 2008 there were 598 Technology Colleges in England, of which 12 also...
status. Biddulph also has two middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s: Woodhouse Middle School and James Bateman Junior High School (formerly Park Middle School), serving pupils aged 9–13. These are fed by several first schools, such as Kingsfield First School, Knypersley First School, Squirrel Hayes First School, Oxhey First School, and several more.
Recent developments
The supermarket chain Sainsbury's opened a new store in Biddulph in November 2010.In addition to the supermarket development, a number of derelict and semi-derelict buildings are currently being refurbished or rebuilt by the local Councils and private owners. These are in line with the intentions set out in the Town Centre Area Action Plan (2007), which aims to reverse the spiral of decline that has threatened the long-term vaiability of the town centre since the early 1990s.
A new 3000 square metre primary health facility for the North Staffordshire Primary Care Trust is also planned for the town centre as part of the ongoing regeneration and investment programme.
A new cafe for youngsters, 'Biddulph Young People’s Place' opened in March 2011 at Kingsfield First School after a year of planning and fund-raising.
Biddulph Post Office closed on Friday 10th June 2011, the eight Post Office staff and customers alike have yet to be told if the office is to re open. A source from the Biddulph Post Office staff said "We haven't been told anything; we are waiting to hear if it will open again just as much as customers are. We know there is a demand for a Post Office because we can't walk down the street without getting stopped. People keep asking us when it's going to open to which we have no answer." Staffordshire Moorlands council are not giving any information other than the Post Office helpline phone number which when called are not able to give any further details at this moment in time. Several rumours are being put about Biddulph including... the Office shall be moved into Sainsbury's, it's being moved into Barclays old premises and that it shall re open where it is but closed off from the shop. Even if the Post Office is moved to another location I am sure it would be impossible for it to happen over night. Biddulph waits to discover the fate of its much needed commodity.
Main sights
Within the bowl created by the ridges of Mow CopMow Cop
Mow Cop is an isolated village which straddles the Cheshire–Staffordshire border, and is thus divided between the North West and West Midlands regions of England...
and Biddulph Moor
Biddulph Moor
Biddulph Moor is a large village located on the hill which bears the same name. It is in Biddulph parish and is a part of the Staffordshire Moorlands district in England. It is very similar to Mow Cop which is located on the other side of the valley of Biddulph...
, there are ancient burial mounds; evidence of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
; the bubonic plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
; Black Bull Colliery; tombs of possible Crusader
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
knights; an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
fort; and the site of a meeting of the Methodist movement with the Wesleys.
Biddulph is also home to the Biddulph Grange
Biddulph Grange
Biddulph Grange is a National Trust landscaped gardens, in Biddulph near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.-Description:"Behind a gloomy Victorian shrubbery there's a gloomy Victorian mansion, but behind that lurks one of the most extraordinary gardens in Britain...it contains whole...
, a house and landscaped gardens owned by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.