James Bateman
Encyclopedia
James Bateman was a landowner and accomplished horticulturist. He developed Biddulph Grange
after moving there around 1840, from nearby Knypersley Hall
. He created the famous gardens at Biddulph with the aid of his friend and painter of seascapes Edward William Cooke
.
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Born at Redivals near Bury
in Lancashire
, he matriculated with Lincoln College, Oxford
in 1829, graduating from Magdalen College
with a BA
in 1834 and an MA
in 1845.
"MA Magdalen College, Oxford, 1845, took great interest in collecting and cultivating tropical plants; FLS, 1833; FRS, 1838; fellow of Royal Horticultural Society; published writings on orchids and other horticultural subjects."
He was a collector of and scholar on orchids, President of the North Staffordshire
Field Society, and served on the Royal Horticultural Society
's Plant Exploration Committee. He had a number of notable sons who grew up at Biddulph Grange, including the painter Robert Bateman
.
He especially loved Rhododendron
s and Azalea
s. Bateman was "a collector and scholar on orchids," Bateman "was one of the early developers of orchid culture. He sponsored expeditions to Mexico
and South America
enabling collectors to gather rare specimens. He published three lavish books about orchids. He pioneered “cool orchid cultivation” which enabled the Odontoglossum to be cultivated in England
, replicating the cool arid climate of the cloud forests in Central America
where these exotic flowers are found. Walter Hood Fitch
, (1817–1892)...was employed by Bateman to create the paintings for his magnificent orchid books...exceedingly rare, A Monograph of Odontoglossum, is composed of thirty large scale hand-colored lithographs." Bateman "was also responsible for laying out the Arboretum at Derby
, the first public park in England
."
His gardens are a rare survival of the interim period between Capability Brown
landscape garden
and the High Victorian
style. The gardens are compartmentalised and divided into themes. The naturalist, Charles Darwin "received a box of orchids from Bateman on 25 January 1862 (and) a letter from him dated 28 January 1862."
The novel by Priscilla Masters, Mr Bateman's Garden (1987), is a fantasy set in the gardens.
In 1861 Bateman and his sons gave up the house and gardens, and he moved to Kensington
in London
. He later moved to Worthing
in Sussex
, where he died in 1897.
From 1865-70 he was president of the North Staffordshire Field Club
.
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...
after moving there around 1840, from nearby Knypersley Hall
Knypersley Hall
Knypersley Hall is an 18th century Georgian style country mansion at Biddulph, Staffordshire which has been subdivded into residential apartments. It is a Grade II* listed building....
. He created the famous gardens at Biddulph with the aid of his friend and painter of seascapes Edward William Cooke
Edward William Cooke
Edward William Cooke, R.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S., F.S.A., F.G.S. was an English landscape and marine painter, and gardener.-Life and work:...
.
Personal history
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, he matriculated with Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
in 1829, graduating from Magdalen College
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1834 and an MA
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
in 1845.
"MA Magdalen College, Oxford, 1845, took great interest in collecting and cultivating tropical plants; FLS, 1833; FRS, 1838; fellow of Royal Horticultural Society; published writings on orchids and other horticultural subjects."
He was a collector of and scholar on orchids, President of the North Staffordshire
North Staffordshire
North Staffordshire describes an area of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It contains the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands and the City of Stoke-on-Trent. The Stoke and Newcastle areas make up The Potteries Urban Area, whilst the Moorlands are largely...
Field Society, and served on the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
's Plant Exploration Committee. He had a number of notable sons who grew up at Biddulph Grange, including the painter Robert Bateman
Robert Bateman (artist)
Robert Bateman was an English painter, illustrator, sculptor, architect and scholar.He was the third son of James Bateman , the accomplished horticulturist and landowner, who built Biddulph Grange and its gardens, in Staffordshire.Robert attended the Royal Academy schools in the 1860s, and from...
.
He especially loved Rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
s and Azalea
Azalea
Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...
s. Bateman was "a collector and scholar on orchids," Bateman "was one of the early developers of orchid culture. He sponsored expeditions to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
enabling collectors to gather rare specimens. He published three lavish books about orchids. He pioneered “cool orchid cultivation” which enabled the Odontoglossum to be cultivated in 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...
, replicating the cool arid climate of the cloud forests in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
where these exotic flowers are found. Walter Hood Fitch
Walter Hood Fitch
Walter Hood Fitch was a botanical illustrator, born in Glasgow, Scotland, who executed some 10,000 drawings for various publications...
, (1817–1892)...was employed by Bateman to create the paintings for his magnificent orchid books...exceedingly rare, A Monograph of Odontoglossum, is composed of thirty large scale hand-colored lithographs." Bateman "was also responsible for laying out the Arboretum at Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, the first public park in 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...
."
His gardens are a rare survival of the interim period between Capability Brown
Capability Brown
Lancelot Brown , more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape architect. He is remembered as "the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due", and "England's greatest gardener". He designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure...
landscape garden
Landscape garden
The term landscape garden is often used to describe the English garden design style characteristic of the eighteenth century, that swept the Continent replacing the formal Renaissance garden and Garden à la française models. The work of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown is particularly influential.The...
and the High Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
style. The gardens are compartmentalised and divided into themes. The naturalist, Charles Darwin "received a box of orchids from Bateman on 25 January 1862 (and) a letter from him dated 28 January 1862."
The novel by Priscilla Masters, Mr Bateman's Garden (1987), is a fantasy set in the gardens.
In 1861 Bateman and his sons gave up the house and gardens, and he moved to Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He later moved to Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, where he died in 1897.
From 1865-70 he was president of the North Staffordshire Field Club
North Staffordshire Field Club
The North Staffordshire Field Club was an organisation founded in 1865 to study the natural history, geology, industrial history and local history of North Staffordshire, EnglandIts president from 1865-70 was industrialist and banker James Bateman FRS....
.
Publications
- The Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala by James Bateman, c.1845 "Only 125 copies of this book were published. It is physically one of the largest botanical books ever published."
- A Second Century of Orchidaceous Plants, by James Bateman, London: L. Reeve & Co., 1867. "Large-4to (315 x 245 mm). pp. viii, with 100 beautifully handcoloured lithographed plates and descriptive text."
- A monograph of Odontoglossum by James Bateman, London: L. Reeve & Co., 1874. Facsimile of the title page
