Biddulph Grange Country Park

The Grade II listed bridge

The 73 acres (0.30 km²) park consists mostly of woodland, principally the Spring Wood, and open meadows. There is a central lake, with a stone boat house. The park has a visitor centre, with a cafe and toilets, as well as a 40-space car park. There are fishing permits for the central lake,[1] which contains Carp, Crucian Carp, Roach, Perch and Tench.[2]

The park includes 450 metres (1,480 ft) of the Obelisk Walk, a steeply-rising linear walkway that forms an optical illusion of a stone obelisk against a dark sky when viewed from the gates at the end of Wellingtonia Avenue in the Biddulph Grange gardens. There is a cave at the end of the walkway that appears at the top of the obelisk.[3]

There is a Grade II listed ornamental bridge on the Himalayan walk in the park. It is ashlar with plane coping, a segmented arch, rounded piers, and parapet walls with carved ends.[4]

The park was originally part of the estate of Biddulph Grange, and was designed in the Victorian era and early 20th century.[1] Biddulph Grange has been Grade 1 listed since 1984, and the Country Park forms part of that listing.[3]

The stone boat house was built in 1904, and is attached to the large central lake. It has been fully restored.[1]

The ornamental bridge was constructed in the mid 19th century, and was listed on 29 November 2001.[4]

A hydroelectric scheme was installed at the site circa 1900; it was restored in 2000, and is used to provide power to the visitor centre and local area.[1]