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Bishton Hall Staffordshire added to English Heritage in West Midlands by D0c.Col on 28/09/2023

BISHTON HALL

Bordered by Staffordshire’s most beautiful countryside and residing in its own resplendent landscaped garden, lies Bishton Hall, a grade II listed Georgian Mansion.
Though the present house dates back to around the mid-18th century, there has been a manor here for a lot longer with Bishton getting a mention in the Domesday Book of 1086. The ivy-clad house features 17 bedrooms, three principal front rooms, a library and servants’ quarters, beautiful landscaped grounds that include an orangery, a rose filled parterre and a Temple Garden that features one of the best Doric screens in the country, all of which contribute to its archetypal old English stateliness.

Various important families have lived on the Estate through the centuries including the former High Sheriffs of Staffordshire but it was John Sparrow, a lawyer and magistrate, who purchased the Estate in 1776 and made it his home until his death in 1821, after which it passed onto his daughter, Charlette. Charlette was born in 1786, and she became well known for her elegance and beauty, however, hidden behind her feminine demeanour, was a tough and unwavering resolve. Bishton Hall was to become her main focus for her lifetime, and amongst other modifications and additions the most notable were the two bowed wings on either side of its main entrance. Charlotte believed all children deserved an education, so in 1827 she financed a new school, paying for everything herself including the teachers’ salaries, books, materials and repairs at an annual cost of £180 a year. All of this during a period in history where children’s schools for the poor rarely existed.

Built in the first half of the 19th century, the central fluted Doric screen, one of the largest and finest of its kind in the UK, is thought to date back to around 1830, a time when wealthy land owners and aristocrats regularly went on a Grand Tour of Europe eventually to return inspired by the wonders of Athens, Rome and Paris.

Charlotte never married seemingly to ensure Bishton remained in her family at a time when, upon taking wedding vows, a wife’s inheritance immediately passed to her husband. Instead, Charlotte avoided matrimony and devoted her energies to helping others until she died at the age of 90 in 1876.

In more contemporary times the Stafford-Northcote’s opened St Bede’s school at Bishton Hall in 1946 and it remained open until it was put up for sale in 2018. Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons antiques, is a man passionate about history, and in particular the period grandeur of Bishton Hall, so much so that he purchased it for close to £1.3m in 2019 as a perfect place to showcase and auction antiques.
There have been many reported sightings of ghosts at Bishton Hall, with the figure of a lady in white, believed to be that of Charlotte Sparrow, appearing the most. It featured in the TV series Most Haunted, and poltergeist activity is widespread with doors opening and shutting by themselves and the sound of children can be heard wafting mysteriously through the tight twisting staircases and rooms.
The hall is partially opened to the public, and although an appointment was required to see it’s interior when I visited, you were free to enjoy it’s gardens and exterior as well as visiting the adjacent courtyard shops and tea room. I got permission to fly from some volunteer gardeners who were really into the drone and we had an interesting conversations over a cup of tea after I finished flying.

Parking is a breeze as you can use the Hall's front of house area for free and stroll through the grounds at your leisure. You can take off from the road in front of the Hall but Line-of-sight isn't the best and from my experience there is little to stop you finding a quiet corner to fly from.

View and discuss this location in more detail on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.78532, -1.966215 • what3words: ///expect.aims.emeralds

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 15/09/2023. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location. Landowner permission may be required before taking off.

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Kylesku Bridge, Lairg (By AlbionDrones)

The iconic Kylesku Bridge on the NC500, remote and isolated, but so worth the effort to visit.

There is a free car park at either side of the bridge, allowing a safe place to stop, soak up the view and a good TOAL spot with great VLOS - although you are on the edge of EGR610 RAF Operational Low Flying Zone, so do check out the RAF Low Fly timetable - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operational-low-flying-training-timetable - before flying, and if in doubt ring the RAF Low Flying hotline - 01489443100

The bridge itself is an imposing concrete edifice, but the scenery is what makes the location amazing, the rapid tidal flow beneath the bridge, and the contrast between the brutal concrete and the mist-softened mountains is something quite amazing to see.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 58.25721, -5.023556 • what3words: ///crop.stubbed.pocketed

Cudworth Manor, Mole Valley (By grandad1950)

Cudworth Manor is a moated privately owned historic manor house in Newdigate Surrey.

Not a lot of space to park

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.16286, -0.268934 • what3words: ///wisely.shrimp.tender

Capel Village Green, Mole Valley (By grandad1950)

A quiet village green in Capel Surrey. Nice pond and a good spot to chill out

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.15038, -0.3216 • what3words: ///area.rooms.march

Pevensey Castle, Wealden (By grandad1950)

Dating from AD 290 it was the largest Roman Saxon fortresses in England.

TOAL restricted on the English Heritage site so best done from the car park.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.81924, 0.333981 • what3words: ///tulip.called.glance

The Museum of Making, Derby (By D0c.Col)

The Museum of Making is located right next to the river Derwent and the banks along the river have been landscaped to take in the fabulous bridges, weir and old and new buildings as part of a regeneration of the area into an enjoyable parkland.

Celebrating the area’s rich history of innovation, the Museum of Making in the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site is a contemporary space telling Derby’s 300-year history of making to inspire new creativity on what is widely regarded as the site of the world’s first factory.

There are loads of places to TOAL, but parking in a city is not easy or free. I visited twice and was able to park behind the Derby Cathedral for an hour that cost £1.40.

It is in a yellow warning zone but not a problem for a <250g drone. There is also the sub station adjacent to the Museum that could give electrical interference but I kept away from it and had no issues with my signal that 100% in the 13 minutes or so I was there.

It's in a city so there is never an issue with food etc, but the museum is free to enter and they have toilets and a cafe.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.92582, -1.475692 • what3words: ///hurt.vent.those

Ifield Mill Pond, Crawley (By grandad1950)

A lovely spot to fly and relax on the edge of Crawley. Quite a lot of wildlife and a really good walkway over the ponds.

Quite close to Gatwick FRZ so take care when flying

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.10934, -0.224281 • what3words: ///holly.winner.steps

Newdigate Clay Pits, Mole Valley (By dandf19)

Newdigate Village, Mole Valley, Surrey. Charming Surrey village inclding St Peter's Church and The Six Bells Inn. The Claypits are located to the west of The Brocus, a recreational green including a cricket club and Bowls club.Parking at The Brocus seemed difficult as the Cricket Club car park was closed. Enterance to The Brocus is via the bus stop - on foot. A public footpath runs between the cricket pavillion and the bolwing nets, turn left and follow the footpath for a while. Quiet and peaceful location, I saw no one in my 30 minutes there on the footpath. I parked at the church and walked down the main street to the TOAL site, about 20 minutes. . Parking on the main street is possible but it is qute a narrow road with a school. The area is also forms part of The Surrey Cycleway so expect to come across single and groups of cyclists in the area.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.16895, -0.299124 • what3words: ///sting.ideal.flag

Beeston Weir and Canal, Broxtowe (By 360_FPV)

Easy Parking
A few power cables to keep an eye on
Weir and Canal
Football goals and raised buildings to fly under
Great scenery

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.91346, -1.200753 • what3words: ///unfair.think.mental

Egerton Dock, Wirral (By Bradders101)

Dockland venue with an interesting bridge. Lots of new development ongoing. Ship wreck situated in top half of dock.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.40165, -3.022367 • what3words: ///forces.star.volume

Wymondham windmill, Melton (By bryand)

Six-sail windmills are rare. Wymondham's would be, if it had the sails fitted. It's readily accessible in an artisan centre. I spoke with Sarah in the cafe, who was happy for me to fly the windmill, but suggested that flying late afternoon would be best, with fewer visitors present. Hence the long shadows.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.76422, -0.740941 • what3words: ///yard.parkway.laminate


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