Visiting Hamswell House, Bath, England

During a recent trip to England, I called upon a wedding venue near Bath, UK in the Cotswolds. A general Google search of “Cotswold wedding venues” turned up plenty of options but something about Hamswell House stood out so I decided to inquire about a tour.

“I’m an American wedding photographer and I think my brides would be interested in learning about your venue. Can I come tomorrow on short notice?” Since it was the Easter holiday weekend I expected the reply to be a simple “no,” but the owner/ manager/ author/ steward welcomed me. And that was when I knew why Hamswell House was different. Rupert Legge.

The History Of Hamswell House

“In AD 921, Athelstan, the first king of all England granted Hamswell manor to the Priors of Bath, who held the moot here until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1535. Robert Whittington, a relative of the Dick Whittington of pantomime fame, took a lease on the manor house in 1543. His descendants lived there for nearly 400 years. The battle of Lansdown was fought nearby in 1643,” as chronicled on the venue’s website.

But the recent history of Hamswell House is just as impressive. It’s home for Rupert Legge and his family.

Rupert and his wife Victoria bought the estate 35 years ago. They have been hosting weddings for the last 15 years. Rupert says that it is “home first” and not a wedding factory. That is part of the reason it feels so special. Besides the beautiful views, pristine gardens, classical architecture, Hamswell House has a feeling of love surrounding it. Kids have grown up here, marriages have started here, family gatherings have been hosted here. Rupert is right; it’s not a wedding factory nor does it feel like one at all.

Hamswell House Architecture

When I arrived for my tour I was greeted with a cup of tea in the Orangery, and Rupert and I quickly fell into a conversation about fly-fishing and sharing photos of who’s fish was bigger…. I was star struck by the view and gardens beyond the Orangery. Rupert was just hanging out in his living room that occasionally is also used as a wedding ceremony site. But the beauty and history of Hamswell House isn’t lost on him.

Over the last few years the Legges have taken on major restoration projects that are part of owning such a historic manor home. The 100 yard long canal was restored during covid. The gardens need endless maintenance (Rupert’s son was working during my visit). A masonry project lasted 2 years to repair the stone walls. I’m sure the Legges have completed more repairs than they care to remember, but to steward such a beautiful piece of history, and to share the property with others must be a labor of love.

After finishing our tea and deciding that Rupert’s fishing trip to Cuba should be on every fisherman’s bucket list, I was ready to explore the grounds.

“Hamswell House as it stands today is 16th century with 17th and 18th century remodelling. The early Jacobean façade is a fine example of the English Renaissance. The garden façade is Queen Anne with a stone shell hood on brackets carved with acanthus leaves and beasts above the door. The Orangery with high arched windows and Cotswold stone roof was added in the 18th century. The extensive gardens are terraced with a network of decorative stone walls and feature a pergola, an ornamental canal and a knot garden. The house is set in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at the end of a long drive and has commanding views over the Hamswell Valley.” Hamswell House Website

English gardens

Situated on 50 acres, the house has gardens on every side. Herbs, flowers, hedges, water features, panoramas, and everything is fed by the natural spring on site. The gardens are artwork themselves.

The arbor has one of the oldest wisteria vines in England, over 200 years old. The 400 year old ancient lime tree is the perfect place for a ceremony with 200 seated guests. The Orangery can be a backdrop for a smaller ceremony or cocktail hour on the terrace with a 20 mile view. The canal has 8 varieties of giant lilies, and a statue of Neptune that Rupert found outside Milan is the perfect focal point. The marquee can be setup on the croquet lawn for the most romantic covered outdoor reception.

My visit to Hamswell House left me amazed (and very disappointed with my little garden and potted herbs back at home). But I would hardly expect to find a wedding venue with this amount of history, charm, and beauty in the US anyway. It cannot be compared and it cannot be reproduced. If you truly want the “English countryside garden wedding” then you need to do it right and go to the real place. Hamswell House checks all the boxes for location, ease of travel, wow factor, and providing a destination wedding experience to remember. If this is what it looks like on a quiet Friday, I would love to see how it comes alive on wedding day!

Thank you Rupert for the cup of tea, the afternoon chat, and sharing your beautiful home with me. I hope to return soon. -Morgan

Book Hamswell House for your english wedding.

Wedding season at Hamswell House runs Easter - mid October before the weather turns too cold.

Consults and virtual tours can be arranged with Rupert Legge through the venue’s website. In person tours can also be scheduled if you are in the area (like I was).

The website details more information about planning your wedding at Hamswell House as well as a brochure about preferred vendors and pricing.

Hamswell House is located 5 miles from Bath, 10 miles from Bristol, and 100 miles from London. Convenient accommodations are available in Bath or the nearby Cotswold villages.

www.hamswellhouse.co.uk