Rangemore, Staffordshire

Flower Delivery to Rangemore with Clare Florist

Rangemore is a tiny village, population about 400, just west of Burton upon Trent in East Staffordshire. It sits on high ground above the village of Tatenhill. Tatenhill is deep in the valley along the eastern border of Needham Forest. It was home to RAF Tatenhill during WWII. Rangemore was officially created in 1884 from several parishes in the area. Historic Rangemore Hall is the seat of Lord Burton.

Needwood Forest surrounds Rangemore. The forest is part of the National Forest, once an ancient forest throughout Staffordshire. It was owned by the Berkeley family of Gloucestershire and was home to large populations of fallow deer, wild boar and wolf. Much of the forest was removed in the late 18th century in favour of agriculture.

Rangemore has an ancient history dating back at least to the 13th century. At that time, Thomas de Berkeley became keeper of Tutbury ward and built a hunting lodge in the Rangemore area of the forest. Eventually he married the daughter of William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby. When Simon de Montfort rebelled against Henry III, the de Ferrers allied with the rebellion.

The rebels failed and the family forfeited their estates to the Crown. Henry III in turn gave the forest to his son, Edmund Crouchback, First Earl of Lancaster, in 1266.  The forest was renamed Needwood Chase and remained in the Duchy of Lancaster until it passed to Henry IV in 1399.

The Rangemore hunting lodge became the home of the local keeper or judge. Eventually it was modified by Edward IV and used for hunting by him and James I. Needham Forest even became associated with the legend of Sir Gawain’s Green Knight.

In 1750, Field Marshal George Townshend, the first Marquess Townshend, married Lady Charlotte Compton. She had inherited Tamworth Castle and succeeded to the de Ferrers barony. Lord Townshend therefore acquired the leasehold of the hunting lodge, which was then known as Byrkley Lodge. By 1775, Byrkley Lodge, Yoxall Lodge in the south and Hanbury Park Farm to the north were the only buildings remaining on the Needwood Forest Plateau.

The lodge was sold to Arthur Chichester, the First Marquess of Donegall, in 1786. He began introducing albino rabbits to the grounds, and they became naturally wild. In 1803, Parliament allowed the forestry commissioners to enclose the lands and begin deforestation.

Through a series of marriages and associations with the owners of nearby Yoxall Lodge, Byrkley Lodge became the property of Emma Sneyd in 1846. She agreed to rent it to the son of a friend in exchange for extensive upkeep of the lodge. Hunting and capture of the albino rabbits was strictly forbidden by the lease conditions.
The Rangemore estate eventually passed to Hamar Alfred Bass, who rebuilt the main house between 1887 and 1991. He founded a racing horse stud, Byrkley Stud, on the grounds and produced winning racehorses and hunters for many years. When Hamar died in 1898, his son, Sir William Bass, 2nd Baronet, inherited the lands.

Sir William was commonly known as Billy Bass, and he was also famous for his racehorses. During WWII, American GIs occupied Rangemore Hall from 1944 until 1945, and some left their names inscribed on the walls and doors of one of the outbuildings.

Billy died childless in 1952, and the baronetcy became extinct. The lands and estate went to trainer Peter Hastings, nephew of Billy’s wife. The estate was sold and the main house demolished shortly afterwards. The Byrkley Stud survived for a time but was also eventually demolished.

In 1954, Rangemore Hall became the Needwood School for the Partially Deaf. It remained open as a school until 1985, after which it was converted to today’s luxury apartments. The former forest area is now mostly dairy farms, and the Byrkley Lodge site has developed into the English National Football Centre – St. George’s Park.  Some 490 acres of woodlands remain with some public access. The Football Centre is the training and preparation ground for all of the England National Football teams.

Need to send flowers to someone special in the Rangemore area? We have arrangements perfect for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and special occasions by next-day delivery.

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