History of the Priory

Wymondley Priory was founded in 1203 by Richard Argentein, honoured knight and cupbearer

to the King. Its place in history began as a house of Augustinian priors who followed the Rule of

St Augustine for three hundred years. After the suppression in 1534 Henry VIII granted a lease

on the property to his Carpenter and Surveyor of Works, James Needham, a notable craftsman

of his time and acclaimed Master of the Company of Carpenters during the 1530s. It was this

royal carpenter who built a substantial family home over the remains of the Priory church and

alongside it the magnificent tithe barn, hailed as possibly the finest timber barn in England.

The Priory was created as a wedding venue in 1992 by John and Ann Hope, themselves happily married

for many years. The couple fell in love with the idea of sharing this beautiful location and have since

hosted more than 2,000 weddings and civil ceremonies. Set at its heart is the historic tithe barn, built by

James Needham in 1541 and still retaining its traditional appearance with a regal sense of space.

The Priory is John and Ann’s home, which opens its doors to couples looking for that uniquely special

place – somewhere welcoming and perfectly private with a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere for their

wedding day. As one of the UK’s very first barn venues, families gather here from far and wide, trusting

John and Ann’s meticulous attention to detail that has proven to be the hallmark of its success.

A Modern Day Love Story

Described as a beautiful canvas on which to create your wedding with landscaped grounds as its

picture-perfect backdrop, the fully-licenced barn transforms from an exquisite daytime venue to a

magical setting for evening events. With space for everyone to enjoy live music, a DJ, or your own

style of entertainment, this prestigious barn is hugely diverse so adding personal-touch decor

works for both smaller or larger groups. The Priory will comfortably accommodate up to 150

guests during the day for dining and can be extended to 180 to share your evening event.

From Perfect Day to Magical Night

We pride ourselves on providing exclusive weddings for every

couple. The Priory holds a licence for all civil marriages, which can

be held in the atmospheric tithe barn or as an open-air ceremony

in the grounds at the summerhouse. We advise that couples

planning to hold their ceremony here check availability with the

local registrar before confirming a booking. If you wish to have

your reception at The Priory following your wedding ceremony

which has been hosted elsewhere, we would suggest that you chat

with us about timings beforehand.

Ceremonies and Receptions

The traditional barn provides a perfect place for vintage-style weddings with vast layout

combinations and contemporary decoration choices. Its relaxed, soft around the edges feeling

blends the elegance of service that John and Ann have perfected over many years with on-trend

elements, such as lime-washed Chiavari chairs, vintage pieces and classic design details.

The Priory’s wedding co-ordinator, who knows exactly how to structure a perfect day,

works with an experienced team to ensure that your wedding runs seamlessly.

Vintage Weddings

The Priory is easy to reach, no matter how you are travelling. We are located two minutes from

Junction 8 of the A1(M) and 20 minutes from Junction 22 of the M25. The nearest railway stations are

Stevenage and Hitchin, with fast, frequent train connections from London Kings Cross and taxi services

available at both stations. London Luton Airport is 20 minutes away and London Stansted Airport just

under an hour. For information about our trusted partners, hotels and guest accommodation, visit

thepriory.net/weddings/suppliers. Call The Priory today on 01438 748647 or visit thepriory.net

How to Find Us

Stevenage

LetchworthGarden City

Hitchin

Baldock

St Ippolyts

Graveley

Weston

B655

A602

B656

B197

B656A505

A507

Clothall

Holwell

IcklefordPirton

GreatWymondley

LittleWymondley

A1(M)

A507

A505

A505

B656

A602

To London(30 miles)

To Luton(9 miles)

To Royston(8 miles)

To Bedford(16 miles)

A1(M)

GreatWymondley

LittleWymondley

Ashbrook

Graveley

Titmore Green

A602

A602

B197

HighStreet

GraveleyRoad

GraveleyRoad

HitchinRoad

GraveleyLane

PrioryLane

StevenageRoad

ArchRoad

To Stevenage

To Letchworth Garden City

To Hitchin

A1(M)

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