Biddulph facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Biddulph |
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 Biddulph High Street |
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 Biddulph
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| Population | 19,892 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SJ8857 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Postcode district | ST8 |
| Dialling code | 01782 |
| Police | Staffordshire |
| Fire | Staffordshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Biddulph is a town located in Staffordshire, England. It is about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) north of Stoke-on-Trent. The town is also around 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south-east of Congleton, which is in Cheshire.
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What Does the Name Biddulph Mean?
The name Biddulph might come from an old language called Anglo-Saxon. It could mean "beside the pit or quarry." Another idea is that it comes from "Bidulfe," which means "wolf slayer." The Biddulph family even has a wolf on their family crest!
Long ago, when coal and iron were very important, Biddulph was known as Bradley Green. The original Biddulph was just the area with the church and old buildings. The town wasn't officially called Biddulph on maps until 1930.
Where is Biddulph Located?
Biddulph sits in a valley. This valley is between two hills: Mow Cop to the west and Biddulph Moor to the east. The town also includes smaller areas like Gillow Heath, Knypersley, and Brown Lees.
Schools in Biddulph
Biddulph uses a special school system called the Middle School system. This is common in the Staffordshire area.
The town has one high school for students aged 13 to 16, called Biddulph High School. This school also has a sixth form for older students (16-18). It became a Sports College in 2002 and later a Technology College.
There are two middle schools for ages 9–13: Woodhouse Middle School and James Bateman Middle School. Many first schools, like Kingsfield First School and Knypersley First School, prepare younger students for these middle schools.
Local News and Entertainment
Television
Biddulph is near the border of Cheshire and Staffordshire. This means local news comes from BBC North West and ITV Granada. These channels broadcast from Salford. You can also watch BBC West Midlands and ITV Central using satellite TV like Freesat or Sky.
Radio
Churnet Sound radio is a local community radio station in Biddulph. It broadcasts across south Cheshire and North Staffordshire. Other radio stations you can listen to include BBC Radio Stoke and Moorlands Radio.
Newspapers
The main local newspaper is The Sentinel, which comes out daily. There is also a weekly newspaper called the Biddulph Chronicle. It is a sister paper to the Congleton Chronicle.
Interesting Places to Visit
Biddulph has many interesting sights. You can find ancient burial mounds and places linked to the English Civil War. There are also signs of the bubonic plague and old coal mines. You might even see tombs of knights from the Crusades. An Iron Age fort is also located here.
A famous landmark is Mow Cop Castle. It's a "folly," which means it was built in the 1750s to look like an old castle, but it was never used as one.
Biddulph is also home to Biddulph Grange. This is a house with amazing gardens, cared for by the National Trust. Next to it is Biddulph Grange Country Park, which was once part of the same estate.
The Biddulph Town Hall was finished in 1965.
Getting Around Biddulph
Biddulph railway station opened in 1864. It was part of the Biddulph Valley Line. This line connected to other major railway lines. Passenger trains stopped running in 1927, and freight trains stopped in 1964.
Today, parts of the old station platform can still be seen. One of the original buildings is now a home. The old railway track is now a path called the Biddulph Valley Way.
The closest active train stations are in Congleton or Kidsgrove. From there, you can travel to cities like London Euston, Manchester, and Stoke-on-Trent.
Biddulph is on the A527 road. This road connects it to Congleton in the north and Stoke-on-Trent in the south.
Buses
D&G Bus offers bus services to Hanley (No.9) and Leek (No.93). The No. 94 bus goes north to Congleton and south to Tunstall and Newcastle-under-Lyme.
First Potteries also has a bus service (No.7A) that goes to Hanley.
Famous People from Biddulph
Many notable people have connections to Biddulph:
- James Bateman (1811–1897) was a landowner and expert in plants. He helped create the beautiful Biddulph Grange gardens.
- Robert Bateman (1842–1922) was a painter, architect, and garden designer.
- Jack Simcock (1929 - 2012) was a painter known for his dark, serious paintings of the Mow Cop area.
- Professor Brian Scarlett (1938–2004) was an academic known for his work in particle technology.
- Joan Walley (born 1949) was a politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent North.
Sports Stars
- John Archer (born 1941) played over 300 football games for teams like Port Vale.
- John Farmer (born 1947) played 163 games for Stoke City F.C..
- Malcolm Bailey (born 1950) played 174 games for Altrincham F.C..
- Phil Dowd (born 1963) was a well-known football referee.
- Rob Bailey (born 1963) is a cricket umpire and used to play for England.
- James Wilson (born 1995) is a footballer who plays for Port Vale F.C. and used to play for Manchester United F.C..
Twin Towns
Biddulph has a "twin town" relationship with another town. This means they share cultural ties and friendly exchanges.
- Fusignano, Italy
Freeman of Biddulph
Being a "Freeman" of a town is a special honor given to certain people. Tony Hall received this title in Biddulph in 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Biddulph para niños
