Rangemore Hall was built in the late 1850s by the Bass Family of Burton on Trent Brewery. It was purchased outright by Lord Burton in 1884 after he leased a large part of estate from the Duchy of Lancaster.
Home of 1st Lord Burton, Rangemore Park Estate formed since 1880 when estate was bought. It had 2,500 acres of which 300 acres were woodland and a two and half acres lake. It had 14 farms, six farming tenants, 48 houses. The workforce was 11 people who were Farm Manager, 3 tractor drivers, 4 cowmen, a stockman, a secretary and a holiday relief worker. There were 9 tractors, one forklift, and an ordinary baler. Combine Harvesters were rented. Farmland was cultivated for wheat, barley and maize. The estate had 750 Freisians, two bulls, 150 beef cattle, 360 dairy cows in two herds and young stock. 30 sheep, 2 young pigs, 2 goats, 6 dogs and two cats. Lakes on the estate were fished regularly and there were pheasant shoots between October and February.
Highlands Park Farm milked 140 cows from 6.00 - 7.30 am.
Home Farm milked 220 cows from 5.45 - 8.30 am.
Milk went to Northern Dairies at Ashby.
210 cows calved between September to October. 150 calved between November to March.
Also on the Estate there were stables and the Bass Family kept horses. Either for their own pleasure in riding them around the country or breeding them as racehorses.
There was forty glasshouses with three and a half mile pipes. Rangemore Hall had a tank house used for watering greenhouses which then became a Chocolate factory for a short time having produced Crown Royale Chocolates. The Chocolate factory was only operating for 18 months.
More work to extension was carried out in 1898. The work was completed in 1902. The extension is twelve times bigger than the original manor. Sir Joseph Paxton and later Edward Milner, famous landscape gardeners designed the grounds and gardens.
Rangemore Club was built by Lord Burton in 1886. It was a Social Club and a Reading Room. It was later sold to members in 1957 for a nominal sum. Marstons of Burton sold beer in the Rangemore Club which was licensed. There were 387 members who paid £2 for a single membership and £3 for a joint membership. The club opened daily between 7.00 - 11 pm and 12 - 2.00 pm weekends. Members played 2 darts team, dominoes, snooker, bingo. It organised village football, cricket teams, over 60's club, Royal British Legion and the Women's Institute. Rangemore Club also organised entertainment twice weekly. There was no public house.
Rangemore Village only had a primary school, church, shop, post office, club, hotel, and playing fields. Rangemore playing fields was 5 acres and given to the village by Lord Burton.
All Saints Church with the tall tower stands at the end of the main road and was in the ancient parish of Tatenhill. It was a gift from Michael Thomas Bass M.P. The Church was built in 1867 designed by William Butterfield, Gothic Revival Architect. Taylors of Loughborough supplied the peal of five bells. In 1884 Rangemore became a parish and the church was consecrated and dedicated to All Saints. In 1885 the church was extended by Michael Arthur Bass, 1st Baron Burton designed by G.F.Bodley to create a chancel.
There are many memorials in the church of the Bass Family. A church clock was put in memory of Lord Burton.
Rangemore House, now Rangemore Hall was home to the Bass Family, titled Lord and Lady Burton and then ranked to Baron and Baroness Burton.
William Bass founded the Burton Ales Brewery in 1777.
Michael Bass, 1st Baron Burton was a Liberal M.P. of Burton on Trent and was created Baron in 1886.
His grandson Michael Thomas Bass transformed the brewery company into one of the largest breweries in the United Kingdom. He was a Liberal M.P. for Derby for 35 years and was a great benefactor to the town of Burton on Trent.
His son Michael Arthur Bass was Liberal M.P. for Stafford, East Staffordshire and Burton on Trent. He became involved in the family business named Bass, Ratcliff, Gretton and Co. His younger brother was Hamar Alfred Bass. Hamar A Bass owned and lived at Byrkley Park.
H.M. King Edward VII made his public visit to Burton on Trent, and stayed at Rangemore from Friday February 21st - Monday 24th, 1902. He visited the brewery and attended public service at All Saints, Rangemore Church.
The Royal Party stayed at Rangemore Hall on January 5th 1907.
Lilly Langtry stayed in a one bedroomed flat attached to the building.
H.M. King Edward VII has made frequent visits to Rangemore Hall between 1902 - 1907, possibly with Lilly Langtry. But staying at other aristocrats's houses around Needwood Forest.
Baroness Burton Nellie Lisa Bass sold Rangemore Hall to Staffordshire County Council on 24th October 1949 for £40,000. The Burton brewery was then sold to Coors.
On January 27th 1954, Needwood School for the Partially Hearing was opened and closed down in 1985.
Austro-Hungarian Ambassador, Lady Alice Stanley.
Back Row.
Hon.Col. Legge, Marquis of Soveral, Duchess of Devonshire, Mr Hamar Alfred Bass, Lord Elcho, Miss Jane Thornewill, H.M. Queen Alexandra, Lord Burton-Michael Arthur Bass, Lady Mar and Kellie, Prince Henry of Pless.
Front Row.
Lady Noreen Bass, Miss Muriel Wilson, Lady Desborough, Lady de Grey, H.M. King Edward VII, Lady Burton-Harriet Bass, Princess Henry of Pless, Alice Keppel, Miss Bunny Thornewill.
Baron Hamar Alfred Bass and King Edward VII
