What a fun day this was! First things first, Hannah had remembered to order a good dose of sunshine for the day, which came out in force all morning and afternoon and added to an already wonderful setting for her and her future Hubby’s day.
It all started for me when I joined Hannah and her besties – come – bridesmaids for their prep in one of Bourton Halls many beautifully grand bridal suit rooms. The champagne was popped, the music turned up and the laughter began. Hannah’s dress reveal to her proud Dad was about as emotional as it gets too.
The ceremony took place in the small chapel connected to the hall and Michael’s best man and ushers really played their part by entering as flower men, dancing their way towards Michael and spreading flower petals all up aisle as they went. That pretty much set the level of fun for the rest of the day.
Once the ceremony was complete, watched over by both their dogs as flower girls, the confetti was thrown and it was onto the stunning gardens of Bourton for some garden games, drinks, magic from the one and only Sylar and a few photo here and there along the way.
Some great speeches were given before the wedding breakfast was had and once the evening guests had turned up to join in the celebrations, the party and dancing could really get underway. Check out the dance floor photos for a snapshot of how the night started. Just think old school beats and you won’t be far off the performance Hannah’s dad gave on the trumpet!
All in all, this was fun fun fun from start to finish.
Suppliers:
Venue: Bourton Hall
Dress: Justin Alexander
Suits: Salters Of Rugby
MUA: Katie Leanne Makeup
Florist: Davies Designs
Cake: Cakes Fabulous Cakes
Magician: Sylar
Acoustic Singer: Jess Orestano
Videographer: Influence Productions
Bourton Hall Wedding Venue History.
The first notable owner of the Bourton Estate – now the site of the Grade II listed Bourton Hall – was Sir Humphrey Stafford of Grafton. A supporter of the Yorkist cause during the Wars of the Roses, Sir Humphrey fought alongside King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. The following year, he and his brother, Thomas Stafford, along with Lord Lovell, led the failed Stafford and Lovell Rebellion in an attempt to restore the Yorkist monarchy. The uprising was swiftly crushed, and Sir Humphrey was executed by King Henry VII.
Following the rebellion, the estate was temporarily seized by King Henry VII but was returned to the Stafford family in 1515. Around 1590, it was sold to John Shuckburgh. The Shuckburgh family, who had gained prominence as sheep farmers during the Tudor period, also owned Birdingbury Hall and Shuckburgh Hall, where their descendants still reside. In the late 18th century, John Shuckburgh (d. 1837) began construction on a substantial yet understated three-story mansion, which remains the core of the current structure. Designed in the style of an Italian villa, the house features a central carved wooden staircase illuminated by cupolas and two canted bays flanking the main entrance.
It once boasted garden designed by the British landscape architect and designer Harold Peto but these had fallen into disrepair by the 1980s.
The Shuckburghs remained at Bourton Hall until 1906, when the property was purchased by James Frederick Shaw. Shaw hired Charles Armstrong of Warwick to renovate and enhance the house with further Italianate elements, including an urn-capped balustrade and the grand Roman Catholic Chapel seen today. During this time, renowned landscape designer Harold Peto was commissioned to redesign the gardens, adding a formal parterre terrace and a raised pond bordered by a pergola—traces of which are still visible.
Bourton Hall ceased to serve as a private residence in 1942. It subsequently functioned as a rest home for Jesuit priests, then a school, and later a grain store. In 1981, Ingersoll Engineers rescued the property from dereliction, converting it into office space. Today, Bourton Hall is owned by Country House Wedding Ltd and serves as a picturesque venue where wedding dreams become reality.
Warwickshire History
Warwickshire, in the English Midlands, historically bordered Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Derbyshire, with proximity to Shropshire. Key areas formerly within Warwickshire include Coventry, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham (Aston, Edgbaston, Erdington), Meriden, Knowle, Dorridge, Balsall Common, Berkswell, and Hampton-in-Arden—transferred to the West Midlands in 1974. Earlier, Tamworth (east), Ipsley (now part of Redditch), and the Tutnall and Cobley exclave were reassigned to Staffordshire and Worcestershire.
Much of northwestern Warwickshire, including Coventry, Solihull, and Birmingham, was once the Forest of Arden, mentioned in the Domesday Book. Place names like Henley-in-Arden, Hampton-in-Arden, and Tanworth-in-Arden reflect this heritage. The rest of the county was called the Felden. Warwick (county town) and Coventry were historically dominant.
Prehistory to Roman Era:
Early humans lived near Leamington Spa (Waverley Wood) and Nuneaton. Mesolithic tools were found at Blacklow Hill and in the Avon valley. Neolithic remains include tools at Wolston. Bronze Age finds, including razors and weapons, come from south Warwickshire. Iron Age settlements existed at Wasperton, Meon Hill, and Oldbury.
Romans built roads like Watling Street, Fosse Way, and Ryknild Street, with forts in Birmingham and Wall (Etocetum). Lunt Fort in Baginton had a rare horse-training gyrus. The Battle of Watling Street, possibly at Mancetter, saw Boudica defeated. Roman towns included Alauna (Alcester), Tripontium (near Rugby), and Manduessedum (near Atherstone), with a large pottery industry around Nuneaton.
Anglo-Saxon Period:
Post-Roman Warwickshire was split between Hwicce and Mercia. After King Alfred’s Treaty of Wedmore (878), Watling Street marked the Danelaw boundary. Æthelflæd built defences at Tamworth and Warwick, founding Warwick Castle in 916. Warwick and Tamworth had royal mints. Warwickshire emerged as a county by 1001, divided into ten hundreds (later four sipesochae). Cnut invaded in 1016, destroying Coventry.
Middle Ages:
Post-1066, Warwick Castle and others like Kenilworth, Tamworth, and Maxstoke were built. Market towns including Birmingham, Nuneaton, Rugby, and Stratford-upon-Avon grew. Coventry, a wool trade hub, became a city-county in 1451. The Parliamentum Diabolicum met there in 1459 during the Wars of the Roses.
Tudor and Stuart Eras:
Mary Queen of Scots was held in Coventry in 1566 and 1569. The 1605 Gunpowder Plot was led by Warwickshire men including Robert Catesby (Bushwood), John Grant (Snitterfield), and involved Coughton Court, Baddesley Clinton, and Clopton House. After the plot’s discovery, they fled via Warwick Castle to Holbeche House (Staffordshire).
During the Civil War, Warwickshire supported Parliament. The Battle of Edgehill (1642) was fought near the Oxfordshire border. Prince Rupert raided Henley-in-Arden in 1643. Charles II escaped via Stratford-upon-Avon and Long Marston, commemorated by the Monarch’s Way.
Modern Period:
In the 18th–19th centuries, Warwickshire became a key industrial county. Coalfields near Coventry and Birmingham powered growth. Leamington Spa expanded as a spa town. Canals such as the Oxford, Coventry, and Grand Union were built. The London and Birmingham Railway spurred development in Rugby, Nuneaton, and Bedworth. By the late 1800s, Birmingham and Coventry had become major industrial cities.
Warwickshire Things To Do
Warwickshire offers a rich variety of things to do and memorable days out for all ages and interests. At the heart of the county is the historic town of Warwick, home to the spectacular Warwick Castle, where visitors can explore medieval towers, dungeons, and daily live shows including jousting and falconry. Just a short drive away is Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Here, you can visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and enjoy a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company on the banks of the River Avon.
For those who love the outdoors, the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty extends into southern Warwickshire, offering beautiful walks, cycling routes, and charming villages like Shipston-on-Stour. Families will enjoy days out at Hatton Adventure World, with its animal farm, tractor rides, and play zones, or Twycross Zoo, just over the county border but a favourite for locals. Meanwhile, Jephson Gardens in Leamington Spa and Coombe Abbey Country Park near Coventry provide scenic picnic spots, lakes, and woodland trails.
History enthusiasts can explore Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, a romantic ruin with royal connections, or delve into the past at the Market Hall Museum in Warwick. The market towns of Rugby, Southam, and Alcester are perfect for browsing local shops, enjoying traditional pubs, and discovering local heritage. Rugby fans can also visit The Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum, marking the birthplace of the sport.
Whether it’s exploring castles, enjoying theatre, walking in nature, or discovering quaint market towns, Warwickshire is packed with diverse attractions perfect for weekend trips and family adventures.
