Heritage and heart
Hale Park is our family home. It’s also Grade 1 and therefore a bit of a responsibility to do things right for the next generations. We need funds to maintain as much as we can, so we are offering the almost 100m2 Drawing Rooms and more than 500m2 gardens as an exclusive place to celebrate the biggest, the best and the most unique day of your life! In so doing, you will become part of the history of Hale Park.
90 or so people can be seated in the church with room for overspill outside. About 115 people can be seated in the drawing rooms for a Civil Ceremony and about 110 people can sit down to your wedding feast! In this latter case, Hale Park will provide a pair of gazebos in the garden for your guests to mill about under while the room is changed around.
A stately home to make a statement
House and Grounds
Our collective English history is closely bound up with the architecture of our buildings: particularly the various styles of that umbrella term, Georgian. Anyone who has been to London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bath or Bristol will be familiar with the clean lines and symmetrically placed windows in walls mostly devoid of fussy decoration. This pared back ornamentation and the clean lines of the Georgian aesthetic chimes well with today’s pared back design and minimalism.
Thomas Archer was of the English Baroque style of Georgian and by 1715 he was having a seriously successful career. St.Paul’s Deptford, St.Philips, Birmingham – now Birmingham Cathedral - St. John’s, Smith Square London and St.Mary’s Hale. He designed them all (or at least part of them). Not to mention the north front of Chatsworth House; Hurstbourne Priors, Hampshire; Chettle House, Dorset and his own home, Hale Park.
At the end of the eighteenth century, Henry Holland (junior)was asked to update Hale Park thus adding another English mega-architect to this house. He added the portico in the front and the dog-walks on the sides. Spaces that I hope you will find useful!
St. Mary's Church in the grounds
St. Mary's Church
The Avon Valley Partnership Benefice has seven churches within it. One of them is St.Mary’s Hale and it is in the garden of Hale Park. They will conduct weddings any day of the week at any mutually agreed time, though Saturdays are restricted to 12pm, 2pm or 4pm and Sundays to 2pm or 4pm.
We strongly advise that you telephone the church office first, before confirming any other aspect of your wedding, to ensure that St.Mary’s and a minister are available. Telephone 01425 653163
It is worth looking at their website at www.avp-benefice.org.uk for the latest information regarding marriage. There is a useful pdf under the “Life Events” link.
The law concerning marriages in Church was changed in 2010. This relates to the expanded definitions of who can get married in a particular church. Basically, if any of the following apply then all is well, though do check with the church office!
- One partner lives in the Parish
- One partner is on the Church Electoral Roll
- One partner was baptised in the Parish
- One partner was confirmed in the Parish
- One person has, at any time, had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least 6 months
- One partner has, at any time, habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months
- A parent of one partner has, at any time during that partner’s lifetime, had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least 6 months
- A parent has habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months
- A parent or grandparent was married in the parish.
There are rules on the reading of Banns also and the Church office will be able to advise on this.
The grandest of entrances
Lime tree avenue
The lime tree avenue is three quarters of a mile long (or 1.2 km). The house is designed to rise out of the landscape as you go down it. Sadly, we all take the road these days so miss this wonderful view but if you have the transport then there is no better way to approach your wedding. My sister left up this same drive in a horse and carriage, illuminated as far as we could see.
Of course, the chauffeur of your vintage Rolls Royce might not feel the same way, in which case the road is a good option!
