“When you book AHB, you are getting much more than ‘just a venue’. The audio and tech equipment throughout the barns, even in the woodland, is AMAZING. Meaning that our guests were able to hear all those special songs, vows and speeches. And the lighting is spectacular, the barns look beautiful regardless, but the lighting on the day really made the barns ‘pop’ and looks incredible in our photos. Carol and Nic are wonderful owners/hosts and were so helpful and always on hand to guide us every step of the way; both in the planning and on the day. They really cared and did all they could to make sure we made the most of the barns and had the best day ever (which we did!)”
Louise & Cheryl
The Wedding Barns
The two magnificent traditional timber frame Wedding Barns form the South and West sides of a Courtyard of farm buildings adjacent to Alpheton Hall and the Church.
The Barns have been sympathetically renovated including new floors (stone floor in the West Barn), lime plaster wall panels, cosy sheep wool insulation to the roof and walls and efficient warm air heating so that even in cold wet weather we can keep guests toasty.
An aisled former double threshing barn, the South Barn is the largest and oldest Barn with 10th Century origins. The flexible space can be configured to accommodate wedding parties from approx. 50 to 200 and still have room for your bar and dancing without moving tables and chairs. The aisles provide the perfect setting for our picture frame ‘photo booth’, or you can create a soft seating area or games and entertainment areas as you wish. Installations include our hanging ladders and iron hoop lights which all have pendant lighting and can be lowered for decoration with flowers, foliage or other (light weight) decoration.
The West Barn is our dedicated Ceremony barn which abuts the churchyard. Slightly younger, with 13th Century origins, the West Barn is a beautiful setting for your ceremony and includes a heavy oak ceremony table hand made on site from a tree from part of the original estate. The Barn can accommodate up to 200 guests but equally can be set up as a stunning space for much smaller ceremonies.
South ‘Reception’ Barn
West ‘Ceremony’ Barn
Woodland Ceremony Glade & Outside Spaces
If you love the idea of a tree lined aisle under dappled sunshine with birds singing in the tree canopy above your heads the Woodland Ceremony Glade could be the perfect space for you. An ideal fair weather option (with the security of the Ceremony Barn as a back up) the woodland glade comes with a hand crafted oak ceremony lodge (providing cover for the registrars, the couple and witnesses), rustic bench seating (for up to 200), ceremony table, power and sound system. The ceremony lodge is licenced for Civil Ceremonies and the glade is easily accessible to those with mobility needs.
Be sprinkled with love (and confetti) in the Confetti Arboretum, a young tree plantation with central grass area mown in the shape of a heart. Ideal for the natural petal confetti shots, group photographs and golden hour photos as the sun sinks behind it to the west. This space offers the best views over the glorious Suffolk countryside.
Enjoy drinks and canapes in the Stackyard Wedding Garden, a grassy space for drinks receptions, garden games and entertainment. A brick terrace and cedar shingle roofed bar cart are provided for the drinks & food service and the oak pagoda and oak tree gazebo have power, lighting and Wi-Fi and are a popular spot for musicians, providing shelter as well as a beautiful photo backdrop. Outdoor marble topped tables and garden chairs are provided for guest use.
On arrival and in the evening, guests can sit on the South facing brick terrace within easy reach of the dance floor before evening food in the barns courtyard. The Cart Shed provides covered heated (in the winter) bench seating with marble topped tables & garden chairs all under twinkly fairy lights. While the covered outdoor caterer’s pizza kitchen (with brick built pizza oven) has festoon lights, fairy light detailing and our beautiful Olive tree. Just add some blankets & cushions to make it your own.
And whilst your guests are enjoying your hospitality the couple, with your photographer, can wander through the wider garden, woodland, green lane and meadow space for those wonderful golden hour shots.
Woodland Ceremony Glade
Confetti Arboretum
Stackyard Wedding Garden
South Terrace
Courtyard & Pizza Kitchen
Meadows & wider grounds
Additional Space & Services
Our aim is for the Barns to provide all the services and space you need. All you have to do is add your choice of suppliers and any props and decorations you wish to personalise the space and make it your own.
- Hi-Tech Lighting & Sound Systems: including colour changing LED lighting programmed for day time / evening, speeches, romantically lit first dance and entertainment and lots of twinkly fairy lights. Our sound systems are available for you to put your own playlist through if required as is a large backlit screen & projector. Microphones and audio equipment for speeches is included.
- Quiet Room and Cloakroom Space: conceived as a children’s quiet room with sofa, chairs and TV / Video the room is suited to a multitude of uses. An adjacent walk through room provides space for coats, last minute wardrobe or make-up adjustments and an additional quiet seating area. These spaces also serve as the Registrars interview room and wedding party assembly area.
- Bar: our oak topped bar with cedar shingle roof is situated in the South Reception Barn and is moveable to your desired location. A prep / display cabinet and bar fridge is also provided.
- WCs: spacious and finished to a high standard with oak doors, venetian plaster partitions and under sink panels, good lighting and plenty of mirrors. Separate Brides / Accessible, Ladies, Gents and Unisex baby changing facilities are provided.
- Kitchens: caterers are always impressed by our two linked kitchen spaces which have pull-out stainless-steel furniture for efficient cleaning. Fridge space is available for guest drinks, but caterers are expected to provide their own refrigeration.
- Tables & Chairs: venue rental includes a choice of rectangular (2’6 x 6’0) or round tables (5’6 or 6’0) and Chiavari chairs with a ‘limewash’ finish and old gold seat pad. We have a selection of chairs for babies and younger children.
- Parking: we have hard standing for winter car parking and turning space for coaches (and double decker bus) together with additional summer grass parking and drop off space near the Barns for the wedding party or frail guests. Guests are welcome to leave their cars overnight for collection the following morning (before 12 noon).
History
Alpheton was founded, it is believed, by Aefflead, whose husband Byrthnoth, Earl of Essex, was killed at the battle of Maldon, on the Blackwater River in Essex, in AD 991.
Aefflead was the sister-in-law of the Saxon king Edmund the Elder, and following the battle and the death of her husband, she moved north from Maldon and settled in what was originally called Aefflead’s Tun (estate) and probably lived in Alpheton Hall. It is highly likely that elements of the Church were part of the Chapel to the house and the Church end of the South Barn may date from this period.
The estate subsequently passed to the Church. Alpheton Hall and the Barns together with part of the estate were purchased by our family in 1940. Further details on the history of Alpheton Manor can be found here The History of Alpheton Manor leaflet.
Photo credits: With thanks to Joshua Anstey Photography Andy Chambers Photography and Hello Romance Photography.