I met these guys at the National Wedding Show at the NEC and we clicked straight away, even more so when we did their pre wedding shoot in the weeks before the big day and spent longer in the pub together afterwards than we did the actual shoot! One of the best burgers I’ve ever had too so if you want to know where we went, let me know, otherwise, it’s my secret.
Prep was its usual fun and laughter as the bride squad ladies got their hair and makeup sorted before jumping into their dresses with Emma doing an epic father of the bride reveal to her dad, check those photos out!
Once everyone was ready, it was in the wedding cars and heading towards Shustoke Barn, one of the many beautiful Cripps venues dotted around the country. It was a chilly wintery day but happily the sun played its part throughout and Emma’s wedding dress looked stunning in the bright winter sunlight. Emma looked pretty good herself, I guess I have to say.
Jamie and his groomsmen were eagerly awaiting Emmas arrival at the top of the aisle and once there, the ceremony was completed under a beautiful flower arch with matching flowers to Emma’s bouquet.
Prosecco was popped, beers were poured and the group photos were had and the smiliest group of people were some of the easiest I’ve ever had to shoot. After the wedding breakfast was had, we moved onto the speeches and they were ALL fantastic. If you can make a wedding photographer laugh, who’s heard ever googled joke ever by now, then you’re doing something right!
Emma and Jamie really turned on the magic for their first dance, which went down a treat with everyone and set the tone for the rest of the night. As you’ll see from the photos, the dance floor got busy, manic and wild!
Suppliers:
Venue: Shustoke Barn
Dress: Wed2B
Suits: Tweedmaker
Hair & MUA: The Styling Room, Rugby
Florist: Field View Flowers
Shustoke: A Historic Warwickshire Village
Shustoke is an ancient village, predating the Domesday Book. In 1086, it was recorded as Scotescote, meaning “Scots Cottage,” from cote—an Old English word for cottage or dwelling.
The parish church of St Cuthbert was built in 1307 on the site of an earlier church or chapel. Remnants of a Celtic-style churchyard cross and reused Norman stonework are still visible. The parish registers, among the oldest in England, date back to the reign of Henry VIII and include entries in the hand of Sir William Dugdale—the renowned antiquarian born in Shustoke on 12 September 1605, in what is now known as The Old Rectory on Shawbury Lane.
Dugdale, a committed royalist during the Civil War, built and lived at Blyth Hall. Appointed Garter Principal King of Arms by Charles I, he read the proclamation declaring Charles II king at Coleshill on 10 May 1660. His family later acquired land near Atherstone, building Merevale Hall on the former site of Merevale Abbey, where many of his ceremonial artefacts are preserved.
During the English Civil War, Shustoke contributed funds to the Tamworth garrison. Records from Captain Thomas Layfield show arrears totalling £108.10 between November 1645 and May 1646, at a weekly rate of £7.5.
The village features several notable historic buildings. Around the church are 17th-century timber-framed cottages with brick infill, characteristic of the Arden area. Other landmarks include the moated Shustoke Hall, a Tithe Barn at Church End, and the Alms Houses. Not all figures from Shustoke’s past were revered—Joseph Harrison, vicar in the early 1600s, was described in 1635 court records as “a man of very lewd condition, much subject to drunkenness.”
Shustoke Reservoir
In the 1870s, the area around Shustoke, Nether Whitacre, and Whitacre Heath became key to water supply infrastructure. Shustoke Reservoir was built to store water from the River Bourne. A pumping station, treatment works, and an additional reservoir were constructed at Whitacre. Initially operated by the Birmingham Corporation Water Department, the system served the city until mid-Wales reservoirs were completed in 1904. Today, Shustoke Reservoir supplies Coventry, Nuneaton, and surrounding areas, and is managed by Severn Trent Water. It is also a popular spot for sailing and walking.
The Village Today
The Griffin pub in Shustoke featured in the 2010 BBC show Oz and Hugh Raise the Bar, where presenters Oz Clarke and Hugh Dennis showcased regional British drinks. The village also lies on the scenic Heart of England Way, making it a charming stop for walkers and history enthusiasts alike.
History of Warwickshire
Overview of Warwickshire’s Historic Boundaries
Warwickshire, situated in the heart of the English Midlands, shares borders with Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. Historically, the county also touched Derbyshire and Shropshire.
Many areas now within the West Midlands—such as Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, and Sutton Coldfield—were part of Warwickshire until boundary changes in 1974. Additional shifts in the 19th and 20th centuries transferred parts of Tamworth and Redditch to Staffordshire and Worcestershire.
In the north-west, the Forest of Arden once covered large areas of Warwickshire. This ancient woodland lives on in place names such as Henley-in-Arden, Hampton-in-Arden, and Tanworth-in-Arden. In contrast, the south—known as the Felden—featured open fields ideal for agriculture and early settlement.
Prehistoric and Roman Warwickshire
Archaeological finds suggest human activity in Warwickshire dates back at least 500,000 years. Palaeolithic tools discovered near Leamington Spa and Nuneaton point to early hunter-gatherer communities. Later, during the Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages, people established more permanent settlements, with hillforts like Meon Hill, Oldbury Camp, and Wasperton showing strategic occupation.
The Romans left a strong legacy. Warwickshire was crossed by two major Roman roads—Watling Street and the Fosse Way. Roman forts were built at Mancetter (possibly the site of Boudica’s final battle) and Birmingham. Towns like Tripontium, Alcester, and Chesterton developed as centres of trade and industry, with pottery kilns and workshops contributing to the economy.
Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Development
After the Roman withdrawal, Anglo-Saxon tribes settled the region. The north became part of Mercia, while the south was ruled by the Hwicce. Around AD 914, Æthelflæd, daughter of Alfred the Great, fortified towns like Tamworth and Warwick to defend against Danish invasions. Warwick later became the county town and a major administrative centre.
By 1086, Warwickshire was fully integrated as a shire, with castles and market towns developing rapidly. Norman lords built stone castles at Warwick, Kenilworth, and Tamworth. Smaller defensive structures were established at Brinklow, Fillongley, and Maxstoke.
Market towns like Stratford-upon-Avon, Rugby, and Nuneaton flourished, while Coventry rose to national prominence. By the late Middle Ages, Coventry had become one of England’s most prosperous cities, dominating the cloth trade and serving as a royal administrative centre. In 1459, it hosted the “Parliament of Devils,” a pivotal moment during the Wars of the Roses.
Tudor and Stuart Warwickshire
The 16th and 17th centuries brought both political intrigue and religious conflict. In 1569, Mary, Queen of Scots, was held under guard in Coventry. Warwickshire was also central to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Conspirators gathered in Dunchurch and were connected to local sites like Coughton Court, Lapworth, and Snitterfield. They were eventually captured at Holbeche House near Kingswinford.
During the English Civil War, Warwickshire was a key Parliamentarian stronghold. Warwick and Coventry sided with Parliament, while rural areas harboured Royalist support. The first pitched battle of the war—Edgehill—was fought in 1642 near Kineton. In 1651, Charles II passed through the county during his flight from Cromwell’s forces after the Battle of Worcester.
Warwickshire in the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution reshaped Warwickshire. Birmingham grew into a global manufacturing hub, specialising in metal goods. Coventry became known for weaving, then for clocks, bicycles, and eventually motorcars. Northern towns like Nuneaton and Bedworth developed coal mining industries.
Transport networks expanded with the construction of canals, including the Oxford and Coventry Canals. Rugby became a major railway centre and the birthplace of rugby football, with the sport codified at Rugby School.
Leamington Spa, thanks to its mineral springs, evolved from a small village into a popular 19th-century resort. Urbanisation spread rapidly, but much of the county retained its rural charm.
Modern Warwickshire and Boundary Changes
From the late 19th century, Birmingham and Coventry became administratively independent as county boroughs. In 1974, major local government reforms created the West Midlands metropolitan county, placing Birmingham, Coventry, and Solihull outside of Warwickshire’s control.
Today, Warwickshire is a largely rural county with historic towns such as Warwick, Kenilworth, and Stratford-upon-Avon—birthplace of William Shakespeare. The county blends heritage and modernity, with castles, countryside, market towns, and industrial legacies continuing to define its character.
