BETTISFIELD

Bettisfield village is surrounded by countryside whose farms and estates once provided employment for villagers. Bettisfield boasts a unique position as it adjoins one of the largest and most southerly raised peat bogs in Britain, the Fenns, Whixall, Bettisfield, Cadney and Wem Mosses, designated a National Nature Reserve.

The nearby picturesque village of Hanmer sits on the northern end of Hanmer Mere, part of the Shropshire lake district of meres which was formed during the last ice age, and has a local pub, post office and church.

There are a number of well renowned schools in the area including Ellesmere College, Moreton Hall, Packwood Haugh, Oswestry School, Shrewsbury School and Shrewsbury High School and the Kings School Chester.

The major centres of Shrewsbury, Chester and Stoke on Trent are with driving distance, with the A41 and A49 close by providing good communication links and the M6 motorway just beyond.

Train stations may be found in Whitchurch and Wem with links to the North and South. Crewe Station has a direct line to London Euston, with journey time taking from 1 hour 37 minutes. Stafford Station is only 50 minutes drive away and has a service to London with a journey time of 1 hour 17 minutes. Regional airports include Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham which are all within easy travelling distance.

The house was built in the 16th century and it is thought there had been a house on the site since the 13th century.

HISTORY

In the late 18th century Bettisfield Park was majorly extended by Samuel Wyatt of London, who designed a new south facade known as a ‘Wyatt Dome’, incorporating part of the 16th century house. In his twenties, Wyatt was master carpenter and later Robert Adam’s clerk of works at Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire, which was a landmark in English neoclassical architecture.

He later worked with his brother James Wyatt on the Pantheon in Oxford Street, London. He designed neoclassical country houses including Tatton Park in Cheshire, Trinity House in London and Digswell House in Hertfordshire.

Samuel Wyatt was the building contractor for a number of his Brother, James’s designs during the 1770’s, but thereafter, the brothers pursued completely independent careers. Samuel specialised in mediumsized country houses, of which Doddington in Cheshire (1777) is the finest example.

Further restoration began on the house in 1945, mainly to the 19th century additions and the 16th century facade. In 1989 the house was sold by the Hanmer family and in 1989-1993 the 18th century part of the house was restored.

Bettisfield Park is a fine example of an 18th century building of considerable importance, with internal and external elegance. The Grade II* listed house is also apparently highly regarded by Cadw. Views are across parkland belonging to the original landed estate.

Constructed of scribed render over an ashlar plinth, with hipped slate roofs behind low parapets on moulded cornices and brick stacks, the house has a sumptuous neo-classical interior which has been well restored. The Entrance Hall has a screen with two scagliola columns and a cornice incorporating swags and aegricania. To the left of the Entrance Hall is a marble fireplace with overmantel and fluted pilasters.

Particularly notable are the well proportioned reception rooms with their high ceilings and decorative architectural detail. The ceiling of the large Drawing Room, incorporates a central oval with roundels in the corner, painted with Italian Renaissance scenes and a plaster sphinx in relief. The room has two pedimented door cases with fielded panel doors, Adam style fireplace with fluted columns and open hearth. The Adam brothers were the first to advocate an integrated style for architecture and interiors; with walls, ceilings, fireplaces, furniture, fixtures, fittings and carpets all being designed by the Adams as a single uniform scheme. Commonly and mistakenly known as Adams Style,’ the proper term for this style of architecture and furniture is the Style of the Adam
Brothers’.

The Dining Room situated in the rear wing, has a screen of two Corinthian scagliola columns, based on ‘The Tower of the Winds’. The rich plaster panel ceiling incorporates an anthemion cornice and in a central panel, The Slaughter of the Innocents’ painted in a Dutch Renaissance manner. Behind the Dining Room was the library which has now been converted to the
Kitchen.

Elegant sash windows provide beautiful natural lighting to the majority of the rooms. There are many good examples of plasterwork and fireplaces, panelled doors and corniced and decorated ceilings.

GRAND HALL

Accessed through the Doric portico reached up stone steps between panelled pillars. Open stair well which has slender brass balusters, fret cut tread ends and wreathed handrail. Marble fireplace and interesting cornice work.

The Drawing Room, Dining Room, Morning Room and Library all open off the Grand Hall.

DRAWING ROOM

Full width bay window, recessed arch, oak floor, ornate plaster ceiling. Adam style fireplace with fluted columns and open hearth.

LIBRARY

Marble fireplace, Oak bookcase with cupboards below.

DINING ROOM

Oak floor, six scagliola Corinthian columns, Siena marble fireplace, ornate plaster work, recessed arch, double French windows.

MORNING ROOM

Full width bay window with 3 south facing windows. Oak floor, a white marble Adam style fireplace with maidens in relief. The plaster ceiling has a painted roundel to the centre in Italian Renaissance style. It also has richly detailed doorcases incorporating entablature with foliage and vase and panel doors.

KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM

Christians kitchen, teak worktops, glazed wall cupboards, a central island with polished teak and granite surface. Corian sink, Neff microwave, Miele dishwasher, large cupboards. Aga with companion LPG gas hob, gas and electric range oven.

BILLIARDS ROOM

Stone flagged floor, built in shelving with cupboards, fireplace with mahogany mantel.

CINEMA ROOM, TABLE TENNIS ROOM & GYM

Cinema Room with projector and seating. Bathroom and Gym. Separate Games Room with access into Billiards Room.

SWIMMING POOL & CHANGING AREA

Built in 2007, the indoor Swimming Pool is heated and set within an Orangery. The pool is 18.182 metres in length (11 lengths = 200m) and 7m in width (3 lanes). The shallow end is 1.4m deep and the deep end is 2.3m deep. The cover is operated by remote control. There are 2 Plant Rooms situated to the side of the seating area and a separate door leading out to the Jacuzzi. The changing area has separate shower and WC.

OFFICE

Accessed off the Grand Hall, with Cloakroom next door and double doors into the Library.

FIRST FLOOR

Master Suite with full width bay window overlooking the Gardens with views to the Welsh Hills. En suite Bathroom with dressing area. A further En suite Bathroom. There are 6 further Bedrooms all with En suite Bathrooms, one being a Jack & Jill Bathroom.

GARDENS & OUTBUILDINGS

Approached via a shared gated driveway, through woodland to the front gate and gravelled drive, leading to the front door with a large gravelled, partly brick walled courtyard to the side. The gardens provide a formal setting being mainly laid to lawn and flanked by stone capped brick walls and stone balaustrading overlooking the borrowed parkland beyond. The lawns are flanked by brick walls and a number of beautiful mature trees including Holm Oak and Cedars, Oak and Rhododendrons. A small walled garden to the side of the house provides access to the gardens at the rear which are mainly laid to lawn.