Explore the history
Apley Estate
Proud, trusted owners of land, properties, farms, shops and many more amazing commercial enterprises, all located near to the historic town of Bridgnorth in the idyllic county of Shropshire.
The estate was created in 1585 when William Whitmore, a haberdasher from London purchased land in Stockton Parish from the Lucy family of Charlcote.
In 1811, Thomas Whitmore transformed Apley Hall into a beautiful mansion in the ‘Strawberry Hill’ Gothic fashion, and in the late 18th century he landscaped and planted in the parkland surrounding the mansion, which is now the breathtaking Apley Park as we now know it. Interestingly, before settling on Sandringham, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert shortlisted Apley Hall as one of their chosen country retreats!
The Whitmore family owned the estate for the next 300 years and then sold the estate to William Orme Foster in 1867, who was an ironfounder from Stourbridge. The new owners had great plans to improve and renovate the estate following the Whitmores’ 300 year ownership - including the farmland, estate cottages and farm buildings which were all restored using state-of-the-art technology (at the time!).
Major A W Foster died in 1960 and was the last of the foster family to live at Apley Park, due to him being unmarried. From 1962 to 1987, Apley Park was used a boarding school and then in the 1990s it was sold to a developer which was then converted into apartments.
Amazingly, the current owners of the estate are descendants of the family who purchased the breathtaking estate. Together, with three generations of the Hamilton family and a passionate, dedicated team, the estate are all committed to carefully preserving the fascinating heritage and history of any project on the estate - in a sustainable and sympathetic way.
St Chad’s Church
A gorgeous 11th century church just a short walk down the lane from Stockton House. With stunning architecture and historic features, St Chad’s could be the perfect location for your ceremony or blessing.
This church is dedicated to Chad - the first Bishop of Lichfield. It all began with Bishops of Mercia, back in 669 AD Chad brought the gospel message of salvation to the people - this was called ‘Mercia’ (back in those days), baptising the converts in the pool at Lichfield. Chad covered the Diocese on foot, but back in those days the Diocese was much bigger.
To give you an idea, the Diocese used to stretch from the Scottish border in the north, to Bristol on the south! Understandably, the Archbishop of Canterbury insisted that Chad use a more modern form of transport and made him ride a horse.
It is thought that the earliest work in the church was Norman, possibly the 11th century - with beautiful Norman windows north and south sides of the chancel and a semi-circular headed doorway in the south. In the 14th century decorated period, further additions were made to St Chad’s including one traceried window on the south side of the chancel. In the 15th century, the amazing tower was built and the upper part was then rebuilt in the 17th century. Beautiful battlements were then placed along the nave walls, windows inserted in the nave, and the east wall of the chancel.
About the house
Boutique Wedding Venue
Our renovation plans started back in 2018 when we reached out to industry experts to help make our vision a reality.
Stockton House is a beautiful 18th century grade II* listed building full of history. We wanted to preserve the original, unique features and architecture the house has to offer and play homage to the history and heritage this amazing house has.
Working alongside top architects Jonathan Holland Architects, we carefully crafted and planned how we wanted the house to look and feel, as well as investigating how the spacious, luxurious rooms could be transformed from what once was a family home to a bespoke wedding venue.
We’ve collaborated closely with expert individuals including Shropshire Council, English Heritage and our friends Apley Estate to ensure we restored this historic building in a sympathetic, sustainable way and preserve the unique characteristics of the house. It was important to us to preserve the heritage of the house, and at the same time use state-of-the-art technology to give you everything you can expect from a new, luxurious wedding venue.
Stockton House has been transformed into a relaxing, luxurious haven, which is why we each bedroom has an en-suite with stunning views over the estate. The house is full of doors, walkways and passages, which is something we wanted to keep. We love how these add a level of curiosity and allow your guests to wander and explore every room of your exclusive venue.
About the grounds
Breathtaking views
Surrounded by 8,500 acres of Shropshire countryside, Stockton House is the perfect English countryside wedding venue.
Enjoy the peace, tranquility and wonderful views from every room in the house.
From an amazing woodland stroll, to views of the famous Shropshire hill, the Wrekin - you’ve got so many options to capture your perfect wedding photographs.
Mesmerising Woodland
Stockton House has a wonderful woodland for you and your guests to enjoy. If you fancy taking a leisurely stroll, the woodland is the ideal location to relax and unwind (maybe even for just 10 minutes or so!).
Whatever the season, the lane that leads from the beautiful woodland to Stockton House looks stunning with dappled lights and sun beams shining through.
