What makes Apsley such an interesting place to get married?
Most of us, if we were asked, would express a wish to tie a knot
in a location that intrigues us. That’s one reason why so many people are drawn
to historic settings when they are
seeking out wedding venues – and as one of the most popular wedding venues in Apsley here at Shendish Manor, we can
confirm that the village is definitely an
interesting place to formalise one’s union.
So, why should you be especially
intrigued by the thought of getting married here?
It’s steeped in history
For such a seemingly unassuming
location, Apsley has certainly played a key part in British history. It was
here that, during the 19th-century Industrial Revolution, saw
extensive paper making activity, thanks partly to the construction of what
later became the Grand Union Canal, but also to a man known as John Dickinson,
who purchased an existing mill in the locality in 1809.
Dickinson will always be known in history as the inventor of a new
method of continuous papermaking, which was to be so successful that the last
warehouse in the area bearing his name did not close until 1999, some 130 years
after his death.
Today, the sole surviving member of a number of 19th-century paper mills
in Apsley is Frogmore Mill, which now houses a museum.
Meanwhile, back in the mid-19th
century, an impressive residence had been built on the Shendish Manor estate
under the ownership of Dickinson’s business partner Charles Longman. Having
passed through the Longman family for the rest of the 19th century
and into the early 20th century, the property was sold to John Dickinson Stationery in 1936.
That property is, of course, today’s Shendish Manor
The same Victorian splendour enjoyed
by generations of the Longman family – now better known for its publishing
activities – remains evident at the present-day Shendish Manor, which has risen
to become no less than one of the most esteemed wedding venues in Apsley.
The remarkable heritage of our
surroundings is even alluded to in the
name of one of our wedding suites – the Apsley Suite, which with its elegant
decor and sparkling chandeliers, offers the perfect ambience for newlyweds and
as many as 320 guests. However, another impressive space – the mid-19th
century Manor House itself – is also available, and exudes undeniable
historical charm.
So, there you have it – the humble
mill village of Apsley is a rather more special place to get married than you
might have ever thought. So, why hesitate to make Shendish Manor your first
choice among the many other highly regarded wedding venues in Apsley?