Biddulph

Origin of the name

Biddulph's name may come from Anglo-Saxon/Old English bī dylfe = "beside the pit or quarry". It may also stem from a corruption of the Saxon/Old English Bidulfe, meaning "wolf slayer", and as a result the Biddulph family crest is a wolf rampant.

In the days of coal and iron, Biddulph was actually called Bradley Green, the original site of Biddulph being the area in which the parish church, Grange House, and the ruins of Biddulph Old Hall stand. It was not until 1930 that the town was marked on Ordnance Survey maps as 'Biddulph'.

Geography

The hamlet of Brown Lees is located in the south of Biddulph civil parish.

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 (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 schools: 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.

JD Wetherspoons opened The Bradley Green on Biddulph High Street on 3 September 2001.

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 viability 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.

In 2011 Biddulph, which has a population of approx. 20,000, was left without a post office for 4 months when the small supermarket in which it was situated closed down. A temporary Post Office was eventually set up in the town hall car park.

A new Post Office has since been opened in October 2013 at the northern end of Biddulph High Street.

Transport

Biddulph had its railway station opened by the North Staffordshire Railway in 1864. The station was on the Biddulph Valley Line that ran from a junction just north of Congleton on the Stoke-on-Trent – Macclesfield line to a junction south of Stoke-on-Trent station. There was also a canal rail interchange at Congleton Junction. The remains of the small dock on the Macclesfield Canal can still be seen.

Main sights

Within the bowl created by the ridges of Mow Cop 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.

Notable people

Twin towns