Record Details

Summary

The listed ruins of a large country house which had formed part of the Bishop of Lichfield's estate until the mid 16th century when it was granted to the Paget family, later the Marquis of Anglesey. Thomas Paget largely rebuilt the house between the 1560s and the 1590s. Further improvements were carried out by William Wyatt in the 1770s. The property was sold for demolition in 1935 when it was partly demolished.

Monument Type(s):

• COUNTRY HOUSE (Tudor to Elizabethan - 1500 AD to 1599 AD)
• BISHOPS PALACE? (MEDIEVAL to Tudor - 1400 AD to 1499 AD)

Associated Events:

• EST1641 - An archaeological assessment of Beaudesert Park, Cannock Wood, February 2005. (NRHE Name - Beaudesert Park) (Ref: Report No. 197)
• EST1845 - Building recording at Beaudesert Hall, Beaudesert Park, Longdon, November 2007. (NRHE Name - Beaudesert Hall, Beaudesert Park) (Ref: PN 1699 / Report No. 1669)

Protected Status:

• Listed Building (II) 1578/10/073: Beaudesert Hall Remains

Full description

Mansion: The former home of the Paget's. Largely demolished in the early 20th century. <1>

Possible site of a bishop's palace (see PRN 50414), documented in 1546 when it was surrendered to the king for the benefit of Sir William Paget, one of the Secretaries of State, due to financial problems. (JM, 17/4/03) <2>

The ruins of the hall are located east of the camping areas, within the remains of the landscaped gardens. The ruins represent all that remains of the residence of the Paget family from 1546 to the 1930s. Considered to be on the site of the house occupied by the Bishops of Coventry and Lichfield until 1536. Family home of the Pagets, later the Marquis of Anglesey, the property was extensively rebuilt by Thomas Paget from the 1560s to the 1590s, when it was extended east, including the great east façade. Much of the older hall was retained at the rear. In the 1770s improvements by William Wyatt saw the removal of the gatehouse walls and other obstructions. The property was sold for demolition for £800 in 1935 when it was partly demolished. The remaining structure was listed in 1953.
Prior to demolition, the well-proportioned hall was four storeys high with a stone entrance porch and two slightly projecting wings which rose to an open bell-tower, beneath which was a clock. The hall was constructed in red brick with stone embellishments and lead-paned stone mullioned windows. The building included extensive cellarage: three coal cellars, game larder, kitchen, scullery, numerous basement rooms etc.
The 1932 Sale Catalogue describes 'a small portion of an 'Ancient Building' with original curved oak beams, old door, leaded diamond windows, now containing four boilers for the central heating'.
The Grade II listed building description mentions that the building is of sandstone ashlar and later additions in red brick with ashlar dressings. The principal fragment is the south wall of the medieval great hall, which has a chamfered plinth and three late 15th century transomed windows set high up in the wall. (LH, 09-Jul-2007) <3>

The standing remains include the south wall of the medieval and later great hall, the wall running parallel to the former with an attached west wing and the north-west angle of the 16th century house. Sandstone ashlar dating from the 15th century is still visible, as well as remains from the 16th and 19th century phases of the building. From the 16th century onwards substantial parts of the structure were rebuilt/repaired in red brick and a large part of the remains were underpinned with cement in the 20th century.
Despite substantial elements of the building having been demolished evidence for the alterations made to the building still survives. The dimensions of the great hall were reduced to create a narrower building and was extended to meet the Elizabethan mansion. (HC, 31/07/2008) <5>

Sources and further reading

Related records

Feedback

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from Exegesis Spatial Data Management.