Hops at the History Center: Biddulph Grange, A Victorian Garden Masterpiece with Robert Craig

Biddulph Grange is a Victorian garden in Staffordshire created by James Bateman in the mid-19th century as a living showcase of global exploration and plant collecting. Drawing inspiration from travels and imperial networks, Bateman designed a series of themed garden “rooms,” including areas inspired by China and Egypt. The garden reflects Britain’s fascination with the wider world and the desire to bring distant landscapes and cultures home through design and horticulture.

This illustrated lecture traces the aesthetic background of the Victorian interest in Egypt and China, culminating in an armchair tour of Biddulph Grange.