Prospect Tower And Attached Wing

Prospect Tower, dated 1828, is a notable structure located in Knypersley, Biddulph. It is built from coursed stone with rock-faced quoins and features a flat roof that is hidden behind a parapet. The tower is accentuated by a large chimney, which was originally designed with three diagonally-set shafts, of which two still remain. The octagonal tower consists of three stages resting on a battered plinth, with the first stage marked by a string course and a machicolated parapet that was once crenellated.

The tower has round-arch mullioned two-light windows with labelled chamfered, deep reveals on the first and second stages, and a similar single-light window at the top stage, which also displays a labelled datestone on its north-east face. The entrance is located on the east side. The plinth extends to the south, connecting to a short single-storey link to an attached wing that formerly had a corbelled parapet. This wing features three labelled one- and two-light windows that are similar to those on the tower.

Historically, the tower is significant as it marks the beginning of John Bateman's landscaping efforts, which he initiated at his father's house, Knypersley Hall, before progressing to Biddulph Grange, completed in the 1860s. The design of the tower shows influences from Clytha Castle in Gwent, transforming an idyllic style into a more rugged picturesque form, reflective of developments in the 19th century.