I have to to say, I love this venue! Its recent refurbishment has allowed the guys at Silchester to really put this venue on the map and give it the ‘wow’ factor.
It has it’s own private getting ready room for you and the bridesmaids in the morning, the old rustic bar setting, the beautifully cultivated gardens, the industrial farm barns and, finally, the stunning new reception ‘room’ – where you’ll have your wedding dinner and spend the night on the dance floor.
It really does stand out from the crowd. Just like Amy & Tom’s wedding day. Such a fun morning with bubbles and an epic TikTok video of Amy’s prep made for her by the bridesmaids and onto the ceremony in the barn. Confetti, mingling and drinks before the speeches were done in front of the new bars magnificent floor to ceiling windows.
Add a little late afternoon sunshine for some outdoor drinks before the party got started and boom, a day to remember.
Suppliers:
Venue: Silchester Farm
Hair: Karenameliahair (Instagram)
Dress: Brides By Aster
Florist: Flowersbyjamie (Instagram)
Silchester itself has a great history. Known as Calleva Atrebatum in Roman times, is an ancient site in Hampshire, England, which has a rich history spanning from the Iron Age to the Roman period. Here’s a brief overview:
During the Iron Age, before the Romans arrived, the area was inhabited by the Atrebates, a Celtic tribe. They settled in the region in the late Iron Age, and their capital, Calleva Atrebatum, was strategically located near key trade routes. The site was known to have been a hub of agricultural and commercial activity, and evidence of Celtic settlements and fortifications has been uncovered at the site.
The Romans established their presence in the area following the Roman conquest of Britain in 43 AD. Calleva Atrebatum became a significant Roman town during the 1st century AD. It was granted the status of a Roman civitas (a town with self-governing rights) and played a central role in Roman Britain. Archaeological findings indicate that it had a well-planned street grid, public buildings, and an advanced infrastructure, including roads, walls, and baths.
Notable Roman structures include:
- City Walls: The town was fortified with strong defensive walls, and the remains of these walls can still be seen today.
- Roman Baths: Public bathhouses were common in Roman cities, and the remains of these structures have been discovered in Silchester.
- Forum and Basilica: A central square surrounded by civic buildings where administrative and commercial activities took place.
- Amphitheater: Evidence of an arena used for public entertainment, such as gladiatorial games or animal fights.
Calleva was an important town in Roman Britain, thriving due to its strategic location near roads linking it to other settlements such as Londinium (London) to Aquae Sulis (Bath) comprised the road from Aquae Sulis to Calleva (Silchester), and then the Devil’s Highway connecting Calleva to Londinium
Silchester Roman Town is today owned by Hampshire County Council and is managed by the Countryside Service with English Heritage being the guardians of the wall and amphitheatre, currently owned by Englefield Estate
The venue finds itself nestled beautifully into the Hampshire countryside, a place, also steeped in history. The South Downs and Salisbury Plain were both settled during the neolithic period with evidence of a hill fort at places such as Winklebury. The area was part of the county of Gwent, or Y Went, controlled by the ancient British kingdom of the Celts. Later, during the Anglo-Saxon period, control shifted to the Jutish tribes before the Norman conquest where the county was favoured by the Norman kings who established the New Forest as a hunting ground.
Mentioned in the Doomsday book, many of the current towns such as Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Christchurch, Waltham, Titchfield and Kingsclere were noted in the county during that period. During the later centuries, many castles and forts were built, especially overlooking the Solent and the harbours at Southampton and Portsmouth. Portchester Castle, Netley Castle, Hurst Castle and Calshot Castle are fine examples of these. The famous ships, Titanic and Mayflower used Southampton as a docking point before setting off on their famous and infamous voyages.
During the Victorian period, the county was known as Southamptonshire and appears on several prominent maps of the area.
These days Hampshire offers plenty of sights and attractions for locals and tourists alike. As previously mentioned, the New Forest National Park is a beautiful place to go for a hike and explore the countryside further. Winchester Cathedral, Paultons Park (the home of Peppa Pig), the National Motor Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, which includes HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum, Highclere Castle and the Spinnaker Tower are all attractions well worth a visit.
