Elmhurst Hall
Encyclopedia
Elmhurst Hall was a country house
in the village of Elmhurst
, Staffordshire
. The house was located approximately 1.5 miles north of the city of Lichfield
.
after his succession in 1683. This building replaced a smaller house on the site which had been occupied by his father Sir Theophilius Biddulph
. The hall consisted of three storeys with a parapeted roof, seven bays wide, with three central bays projecting. Sir Michael Biddulph who was MP several times for Lichfield gained possession of the land after succeeding his father Theophilius Biddulph. The hall remained in the Biddulph family until 1765. In 1765 Elmhurst Hall and 370 acres of land (some of it in Kings Bromley
) were sold to Samuel Swinfen of Swinfen
in Weeford
. Samuel died in 1770 and was succeeded in by his brother Thomas, who died in 1784 to be succeeded by his son John.
Francis Perceval Eliot
, the army officer and later writer, moved to Elmhurst Hall as a tenant in 1790. In the same year he agreed to buy the Hall and the 352 acre estate from John Swinfen. Eliot also acquired the Stychbrook estate, the leasehold on Lea Grange and the leasehold of the land owned by the Vicars Choral of Lichfield Cathedral
. Eliot eventually held 850 acres of land north of Lichfield, he borrowed heavily to buy the land and in 1797 he unsuccessfully put up the land for sale as he could not meet repayments. Eliot moved out to Lichfield and demolished the derelict hall in 1806 when it would not sell.
. The front was gabled with seven bays and an off-centre porch. The hall was approached from a long drive from Tewnalls Lane. In 1816, Smith became High Sheriff of Staffordshire
. A small lodge was built on Tewnalls Lane in 1832. Smith lived at the hall until his death in 1840 when the hall was passed to his son, Charles.
Charles Smith sold the hall in 1856 to Newton John Lane. Lane died in 1869.
In 1874 his trustees sold the hall to George Fox (a retired Manchester businessman). During this time a lodge was built south of the hall, this lodge survives today and the building style matches that of the hall. In 1894 George Fox let the hall to the Duke of Sutherland
so that he could entertain the Prince of Wales
when he visited Lichfield for the centenary of the Staffordshire Yeomanry
, which had been founded by Eliot in 1798.
In 1895, the hall was sold to Henry Mitchell (the Smethwick Brewer). Mitchell lived in the house until his death in 1914. After Mitchell’s death, the executors of his estate put it up for sale and, after years without sale, the hall was demolished in 1921.
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
in the village of Elmhurst
Elmhurst, Staffordshire
Elmhurst is a small village and civil parish within Lichfield District, in Staffordshire, England. It is located approximately 1.5 miles north of Lichfield. The village is rural in nature consisting of a few farms and a small amount of private houses...
, 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...
. The house was located approximately 1.5 miles north of the city of Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
.
First hall (1683-1806)
The original hall was built by Sir Michael BiddulphSir Michael Biddulph, 2nd Baronet
Sir Michael Biddulph, 2nd Baronet was an English politician.The son of Sir Theophilus Biddulph, 1st Baronet and Susanna Highlord, Michael Biddulph was educated at St Paul's School and Christ's College, Cambridge. He succeeded to his father's baronetcy in 1683. Biddulph was Member of Parliament ...
after his succession in 1683. This building replaced a smaller house on the site which had been occupied by his father Sir Theophilius Biddulph
Sir Theophilus Biddulph, 1st Baronet
Sir Theophilus Biddulph, 1st Baronet was the son of Michael Biddulph of Elmhurst, Staffordshire.He was a London Silkman who was knighted in 1660 and created a Baronet in the Baronetage of England on 2 November 1664...
. The hall consisted of three storeys with a parapeted roof, seven bays wide, with three central bays projecting. Sir Michael Biddulph who was MP several times for Lichfield gained possession of the land after succeeding his father Theophilius Biddulph. The hall remained in the Biddulph family until 1765. In 1765 Elmhurst Hall and 370 acres of land (some of it in Kings Bromley
Kings Bromley
Kings Bromley is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England on the junction of the A515 and the A513 roads. The village lies in Lichfield District, and the council ward of Kings Bromley had a population of 1,651 at the time of the 2001 census, Kings Bromley is a village and civil parish...
) were sold to Samuel Swinfen of Swinfen
Swinfen
Swinfen is a small community about two miles south of Lichfield in the civil parish of Swinfen and Packington, Staffordshire.Swinfen is referred to in the Domesday Book of 1086 when the Manor was held by the Bishop of Lichfield....
in Weeford
Weeford
Weeford is a village and civil parish located in the Lichfield District of Staffordshire in England. It has a population of 202.The name Weeford is believed to come from the Old English Wēohford or Wēoford, and to mean "Holy ford", or "ford by a heathen temple".The medieval church is dedicated to...
. Samuel died in 1770 and was succeeded in by his brother Thomas, who died in 1784 to be succeeded by his son John.
Francis Perceval Eliot
Francis Perceval Eliot
Francis Perceval Eliot was an English soldier, auditor and man of letters.Eliot was the son of General Granville Elliott and his second wife, Elizabeth Duckett...
, the army officer and later writer, moved to Elmhurst Hall as a tenant in 1790. In the same year he agreed to buy the Hall and the 352 acre estate from John Swinfen. Eliot also acquired the Stychbrook estate, the leasehold on Lea Grange and the leasehold of the land owned by the Vicars Choral of Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
. Eliot eventually held 850 acres of land north of Lichfield, he borrowed heavily to buy the land and in 1797 he unsuccessfully put up the land for sale as he could not meet repayments. Eliot moved out to Lichfield and demolished the derelict hall in 1806 when it would not sell.
Second hall (1808-1921)
In 1808, John Smith of Fenton bought a large part of the estate, including the site of the Hall, from Eliot who moved back to London. Smith built a new Elmhurst Hall on his new estate. The new hall was built of brick with stone dressings in an Elizabethan styleElizabethan architecture
Elizabethan architecture is the term given to early Renaissance architecture in England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historically, the period corresponds to the Cinquecento in Italy, the Early Renaissance in France, and the Plateresque style in Spain...
. The front was gabled with seven bays and an off-centre porch. The hall was approached from a long drive from Tewnalls Lane. In 1816, Smith became High Sheriff of Staffordshire
High Sheriff of Staffordshire
This is a list of the High Sheriffs of Staffordshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
. A small lodge was built on Tewnalls Lane in 1832. Smith lived at the hall until his death in 1840 when the hall was passed to his son, Charles.
Charles Smith sold the hall in 1856 to Newton John Lane. Lane died in 1869.
In 1874 his trustees sold the hall to George Fox (a retired Manchester businessman). During this time a lodge was built south of the hall, this lodge survives today and the building style matches that of the hall. In 1894 George Fox let the hall to the Duke of Sutherland
Duke of Sutherland
Duke of Sutherland, derived from Sutherland in Scotland, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom held by the head of the Leveson-Gower family. It was created by William IV in 1833 for George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Marquess of Stafford...
so that he could entertain the Prince of Wales
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
when he visited Lichfield for the centenary of the Staffordshire Yeomanry
Staffordshire Yeomanry
The Staffordshire Yeomanry was a unit of the British Army.Raised in 1794 following Prime Minister William Pitt's order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain from foreign invasion, the Staffordshire Yeomanry began as volunteer cavalry regiment. It first served overseas at the...
, which had been founded by Eliot in 1798.
In 1895, the hall was sold to Henry Mitchell (the Smethwick Brewer). Mitchell lived in the house until his death in 1914. After Mitchell’s death, the executors of his estate put it up for sale and, after years without sale, the hall was demolished in 1921.