Doors and Windows

Improving the doors and windows is a good example of this, as if a building is either listed or in a conservation area there could be restrictions on what could be done. Usually if a structure is owned by an organisation such as the national trust, self imposed restrictions will exist anyway, so for example, if it already has traditional timber framed sash windows, these are likely to be repaired as opposed to replaced with aluminium, UPVC or even a different type of timber and style, although if the frames allow, uprated glass may be used, usually double glazed to offer better insulation properties.

Changing doors can also often be a difficult decision, as large country houses are ideal for larger glass doors, these can be the bifold, concertina or sliding style. However because of structural constraints they must usually be made to fit an existing opening and fit in with the traditional appearance of the building and surrounding windows. The range available is not as broad as with simple doors, however many companies do offer an ever widening range of styles these days which in the case of traditional wooden styles may be available in a range of wood stains to match the existing features, click here for an example of the different styles available.

Masonary

Stonework is a very different case, as often on an older building it was probably hand crafted, although it could now be in a state of disrepair to the point that the specific feature is no longer recognisable. this level of deterioration can be down to a number of things, however, pollution and the stone being worked and consequentially laid in the wrong orientation is often the culprit. These types of repairs can prove to be very costly and are generally best avoided unless entirely necessary.

Until such time that improving the structural appearance is as easy as updating more minor items such as doors and windows these type of repairs will seldom be done in time to save the feature completely.

The local deer population seems to have grown over the last couple of years, both red deer and Muntjacks are often seen grazing in the open fields. Also squirrels (albeit grey as opposed to our red ones) seem to have been increasing in numbers of late.

The roof of the building is said to have colonies of bats in there, this only came to light when construction work was due to begin and the surveyor found them roosting in the rafters, due to their protected status a portion of the work had to be delayed until they had finished bringing up their young. This was several years back, although I’m told that they will usually continue to roost in the same place if possible, so the chances are that they are still there now. Also the mix of water, woodland and open countryside means they could be almost any of our indigenous British species.

Water voles and mink are both said to have been seen at the river and there is even a roumour that otters are present there, although I do find this highly unlikely and there has been no confirmed sighting from a reliable source. I would expect that if they were there a local conservation group would have undertaken a monitoring scheme to keep an eye on their progress. It’s quite likely that any sightings are just a mink, wrongly identified instead. companies like www.wildcareshop.com sell loads of different monitoring type of equipment, so there’s no doubt that it would be quite easy to trap or photograph them.

This year I have seen a huge number of Bumble bees, I don’t know if their numbers are on the increase or if the weather has somehow worked in their favour, but I can’t remember ever having seen so many. Of course it could just be that their nest is close by somewhere.

The local beekeeper is also often around tending to his hives, although I’m told it’s been a bad year for honeybees as they built up early in the warm weather we had back in March, then have struggled to get out to feed due to the low temperatures and high volumes of rain we’ve had this spring and summer. He is not expecting a great honey crop this year, you can see updates about how he is getting on here www.honeybeehive.co.uk.

The raptors are another regular sighting around here, Buzzards, Red Kites and Kestrels are all regularly seen and seem to do well feeding on the mice and voles which are abundant in the hedgerows and fields. Speaking of which, there must be some kind of subsidy available to farmers this year to encourage them to leave fields to grow as wild meadow. I’ve seen several, which were previously arable but have now been left to grow wild, I expect they will be cutting them for hay at some point soon, but it still leaves a great opportunity for wildflowers to grow and provide nectar and pollen for both the wild insects and our local beekeepers wards.

Does Size Matter?

Even if you’re keeping your wedding to a select number, you will probably end up needing more space than you thought.  Whether this is for your massive wedding cake to have its own table, to allow waiters to move around or just to make sure kids can get out quickly when they ‘neeeeed a weeeee!’, you’ll quickly find your small wedding of 30 people needs rather a lot of space.

Full Control

Choosing a marquee instead of a venue room gives you a unique edge: you can choose exactly how it’s going to look.  Given that most standard marquees are white and relatively uncomplicated, you can have full control over how the flowers are arranged, where the tables are placed and even wrap pretty ribbons around any unsightly metal poles.

Help Where It’s Needed

If you use a professional marquee rental service, they will offer you plenty of help if you need it.  They can advise on the style and size of marquee that will fit your needs, the kind of decoration that will work with your marquee and theme and many other niggling details that you probably hadn’t even thought of.  For example, do you want full length windows or small, arched windows?  How many entrances/exits do you require?  Where is the best location for your marquee?  Do you need flooring?  Some companies will even visit your planned reception site and inspect it for appropriateness.

How Much will it Cost?

Well it will of course vary according to how much space you need and how many guests you have.  It will also hinge on your research and haggling skills.  With so many hire companies out there, you will probably be able to shop around and find the best deal just by using the internet.

A general guide is that if you have 150 guests, to hire a marquee big enough you will probably need to spend somewhere in the region of £4,000.  This would include full construction, heating, lighting, flooring, doors, dismantling and linings.  However, you’ll find a much lower price if you’re willing to forgo some of those touches.

If you go for a full-service rental agency, you can build your dream venue pretty much from the ground up, picking lighting themes, colours, furnishings and props that fit in with the rest of your day.  This service won’t be cheap but it will take a lot of the stress away.

It’s also worth remembering that hiring a marquee can be a lot more affordable than going for a larger venue such as a hotel.  If you have a large garden at your disposal, it’s the best choice in terms of budgeting. Just remember not to blow the budget, you still need the wedding photography, caterers, as everyone will need something to soak up all that drink with, the band plus all the little extras which people forget to include in the initial budget.

I can imagine any bride being more than happy with approaching the venue down it’s impressive avenue to the front of the building, lined with mature trees. Although these days being the officers mess I don’t believe it’s available for private hire any more, I suppose the only solution would be to marry an RAF officer.

The building has a somewhat unusual though somewhat unusual appearance, this is due to it only actually being just over a hundred years old, however it was designed to look older rather than following modern architecture techniques for its time.

The grand hall is an impressive feature; and again, any bride would have been delighted to hold their wedding reception in it. With side rooms and undoubtedly well fitted and kitted kitchen and space to party all night all that would be needed are a good wedding band to play, and the reception would almost be a guaranteed success.

If rooms were also available (I don’t know exactly how many there are, but I would imagine the 3 story building originally had at least 20 bedrooms) the couple could go upstairs to change for the evening and then come down the staircase to the main hall for their first dance.

All in all I don’t think anyone would be disappointed by this venue regardless of the event.  The RAF still have events there which are undoubtedly well attended, I would imagine they are balls for big occasions where everyone is dressed up and top quality food and wine laid on with a professional party band playing, so they can all dance the night away.