Our work at Biddulph Grange Garden

The Chinese Temple in the area known as 'China' at Biddulph, Staffordshire — The Chinese Temple in the area known as 'China' at Biddulph | © National Trust Images/John Miller

Discover more about the work that's being undertaken at Biddulph Grange Garden in order to maintain and restore this masterpiece of Victorian garden design, the Geological Gallery and the Drawing Room.

Garden restoration

Biddulph Grange’s Grade I listed garden has been restored to its Victorian heyday, using historic descriptions and plans supported by archaeological evidence.

The aim is to restore it as closely as possible, to James Bateman’s original vision.

Inspired by Edward Kemp

The main source of inspiration and guidance for the restoration, is an 1862 description of the garden by Edward Kemp.

First published in the Gardeners Chronicle, it's the only detailed description of the garden and grounds.

Restoration begins

Ongoing projects include the replacement and restoration of the drainage system under the paths, essential work to protect the tree collection and the regilding the Chinese Garden's Buffolo statue.

The Chinese footbridge over an ornamental stream in the China Garden at Biddulph Grange Gardens — The Chinese footbridge over an ornamental stream at Biddulph Grange Garden | © National Trust Images/Ian Shaw

The Chinese Garden

As featured in BBC's "Hidden Treasures of the National Trust", the bridge and fence in the Chinese Garden has now been fully restored. Thank you to all our supporters for your generous donations.

Funds are now being raised to regild the Bufflo Statue and repair the roof above it.

The Geological Gallery

A Victorian curiosity that first opened to the public in 1862, the Geological Gallery is an ambitious structure.

We began caring for the Gallery in the early 2000’s and efforts to restore it continued until 2021, with the restoration of the rock strata.

One of a kind

The Geological Gallery is the only one of its kind in the world and was the original entrance to the garden during the 19th century.

The final stage of the restoration has begun, with thanks to a kind donation, and this stage of the work will focus on the Roman antiquities that were originally in the entrance to the Gallery.

The aim of the final stage is to conserve and display the original antquities for visitors and put replicas in the Gallery entrance.

The Drawing Room at Biddulph Grange

Conservation work on the Drawing Room has begun with the removal of wallpaper from sections of coving.

Underneath, we have discovered a hand-painted design by Henry Scholtz, a French decorator who worked for the Crace & Sons Design Company from the 1830s to the 1890s.

Crace & Sons Design Company

Crace & Sons were distinguished British interior designers.

They were famous for work on buildings such as Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the National Gallery and worked alongside architect Augustus Pugin, to decorate the interior of the Houses of Parliament.