October News; Marquee Weddings, Metal Detecting and Gargoyles...
With the recent cold snap at the end of September, we were all ready to don our woolly jumpers and winter coats, yet we’ve twirled into October with a gloriously sunny weekend. Our wedding couple, Emma and Aaron, were ecstatic to be enjoying drinks in the garden for their reception – what an Autumnal treat!
Laura Williams Photography
Last month was a busy one for Butley Priory as we welcomed our first and second cohort of guests for the inaugural Suffolk Sandlands Tours. If you have never heard of it, Suffolk Sandlands is the name given to our Luxury Metal Detecting tours where guests enjoy three full days in the field, led by expert hosts Andy & John.
The Farmhouse is a welcome retreat after a long day in the elements and we thank Country Cuisine for providing a delicious feast each evening (and every morning) for our guests. Before dinner, guests are invited to enjoy talks by local historians and archaeologists in the Priory – it’s a real jam-packed few days with some interesting ‘finds’, no gold hoards yet… we’ve had some wonderful feedback, with guests already booking again for next year!
Leading on nicely from metal detecting, it’s just been announced by Suffolk County Council that evidence of a 1400-year-old royal Hall of the first Kings of East Anglia has been discovered in nearby Rendlesham. The foundations of the large and elaborate timber Hall built for the kings, were uncovered by a community archaeological excavation, part of SCC’s Rendlesham Revealed project.
Our locality is certainly rich in history and historical finds, that’s for sure. You can read more on this story here
Credit: Suffolk County Council
Again, keeping to a historical theme, we welcomed a jolly gathering of some 80 guests to the Priory in September. ‘Friends of Orford Museum’, for the relaunch of ‘The Orford Historian’- a bi-annual bulleting on local history edited by Jack Cooke. Valerie Fenwick gave a talk about the history of Butley Priory.
The Orford Museum have plans to use the Priory for regular history talks starting on 29th November, when Gary Battell (Suffolk County Council’s woodland advisor) will be talking about Staverton Thicks and ancient Suffolk forests. Tickets are available through Orford Museum.
We’ve been lucky to see so many wonderful tents and structures for our September weddings, from tipi’s to transparent to stretch tents, we’ve pretty much seen them all. Here’s a few photos of the varying tents, each with their own magical transformation from our couples.
Last week, we erected some scaffolding to survey the upper reaches of the Priory. Thankfully, only a few bits of repair work needed, but it gave us a great opportunity to get up close to this little guy.
As we head full throttle into Autumn and Winter beyond, plans are afoot for a Christmas wreath-making workshop on Wednesday 7th December.
With sustainability at the forefront of our mind, we’ve teamed up with local eco florist & grower, Lucy Spencer, from Hall Lane Flowers. Lucy grows and forages all her own flowers and foliage for you to create a beautiful wreath for your front door this Christmas. No chemicals or floral foam here thank you!
While busily creating your wreath, you’ll enjoy listening to some festive tunes, sipping some fizz and a delicious warm mince pie. Before you know it, you’ll be channelling all the festive feels. And if you’ve always wanted to visit Butley Priory, you’ll have a chance to explore too!
Keep an eye on our website and socials for more details and how to book tickets.
