Once upon a time, (1070 to be exact), William The Conqueror built Rockingham Castle as a royal fortress. Successive Kings refortified it as fast as invaders destroyed it. Eventually, The Crown seized it from King Edward III but left it to ruin. So thank goodness Henry VIII handed it to the Watson family, who’ve lived there happily ever after.

It’s a whole lot more romantic now with castellated towers, lovely lawns, a rose garden instead of a keep, air con and WIFI. And the panoramic views that once revealed impending attacks, now simply supply stunning scenery.

And after hundreds of years of change, there’s evidence of every era in the architecture and gardens. You literally walk through history at Rockingham.

Or, if you’re anything like me, you unleash the big kid in you …

As I’m taking photos on a wedding day, I imagine playing Quidditch in the parapets, hide and seek in the maze, bows and arrows beneath the towers, and spot the shapes in the elephantine hedge. (Ok, I only do two of those.)

And it’s those interesting features, breathtaking views, and rich history that I find so inspiring for wedding photography at Rockingham Castle.

And I think you’ll love it too …

Not to be too Disney princess about it, but Rockingham Castle is quite the fairytale wedding venue.

Rockingham Castle Wedding Photography

Your guide to

Ok, that’s a cop-out. Because I got stuck for words. But it’s true.

Every photo will be a winner. Because there are more beautiful backgrounds than you can shake a bouquet at.

There's no car park, mobile toilet, or Lidl supermarket in the background here. Just the odd dramatic tower, quirky hedge, pergola look-out, spiral staircase, romantic garden, countryside view, ancient arrowslit, and taxidermy ram with a wonky eye.

... All set and ready to be the backdrop for your own happily ever after.

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Five reasons you’ll love Rockingham Castle for your wedding photography

I’m lucky enough to be one of Rockingham Castle’s recommended wedding photographers and between weddings and pre-wedding photoshoots, I’ve worked there in every season and in all weathers.

So I’ve had an opportunity or two to really explore the estate grounds and discover all the best nooks and crannies inside the castle.

My couples love that familiarity. With such a large venue, it helps to know how long it takes to get to different spots and how best to fit in group photos and portraits when you’re already in a particular spot, rather than going back somewhere.

And I love working somewhere that has everything one needs for a dreamy wedding day! I have a very active inner child so every wedding I get to capture at Rockingham Castle is a nostalgic dream for me! It has a very special atmosphere and I love being immersed in that on a wedding day. The sense of history is palpable and of course interesting, but it’s also a serene place to just be and spend time. I see this feeling in guests too and it's a joy to capture people enjoying the setting as much as the celebration.

The Rockingham Castle events team is incredible. They know the castle so well and really leverage that knowledge when planning the timing and logistics of a wedding day. They’re always eager to hear ideas for photos and, whenever they can, will pull out all the stops to make your wishes happen.

Hello, hi, bonjour! I’m Sarah.

My Experience at Rockingham Castle

Vicki & Mike

“They are simply utterly amazing. There is just pure joy and happiness in every photo. Thank you so so much. These are incredible. My motivation to work for the rest of the day has disappeared and I want to keep looking at them all day! They capture the day perfectly and just as it was.“

Katherine & Simon

“Our photographs are natural but also stunning. We are so grateful for Sarah’s flexibility and she immediately put us at ease. With her help, everything ran like clockwork and getting all of the shots that we wanted was effortless. Our album is absolutely stunning! I've never seen photos with such clarity and vibrant colours before; it really brings the day back to life. We love it!”

Jake & Steve

“Sarah came highly recommended to us from Emma at Rockingham Castle, and after looking through her work, we felt she’d capture our special day as it happened, completely fuss-free. We were set on booking her after our Zoom chat when we saw how lovely and friendly she was.”

Kind words from Rockingham couples

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Rest awhile...

If you’d like some pics of the two of you during golden hour, the best spots are the field by the church or The Wild Garden. Bring shoes for walking!

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If it’s wet or too cold to be outside, I recommend using The Great Hall for your group photos. Please check this is possible with the team at Rockingham though, as it means clearing the room beforehand. That will give us plenty of space and your guests will be close by in The Panel Room for when they’re needed.

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If you’d like pictures of the two of you in front of the two towers, try to keep guests’ cars parked well away from that spot for the prettiest backgrounds.

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The top of the tower is an ideal vantage point for a big group photo of all your guests. But it takes a good five minutes to climb the steep spiral steps! So whilst I do that, it’s great to have an Usher or two who can guide your guests into place to make the best use of time.

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If you’d like pictures in the gardens, maybe the rose garden or on the lookout, try to plan these for after dinner when your guests are elsewhere for privacy but before 8pm when the gardens close. It takes a bit of time just to get there and back, which makes it a rush during your drinks reception, whereas after dinner, we have a bit more time. Timings will depend on the time of year you get married, of course.

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My top five planning tips for wedding photography at Rockingham Castle

Show me a more beautiful setting for a church than Rockingham! Conveniently located at the foot of the castle, it's a short (though a little steep) walk and the most peaceful of locations. 

Rockingham church weddings

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If you're getting married at Rockingham, you can also have your pre-wedding photoshoot there. It’s a great way to get used to the camera (and me!) and a chance to really explore the grounds, with the bonus of some lovely photos that celebrate this one-off time in your lives.

Nervous about the camera?

FAQs

A tricky choice as every season has something unique and special to offer. I personally love June and July when the roses are in full bloom. But all those ancient trees in the autumn are stunning. And the castle takes on a super cosy feel in the winter. You can't go wrong at any time.
St Leonard's church in Rockingham village is within walking distance. It's a fairly steep stretch to the castle though, so some guests may wish to walk there and get a lift back so it's all downhill. Great Easton is close by and you're right on the edge of Corby for anywhere in that vicinity. There are several towns within easy travelling distance too — it's 20 minutes to Market Harborough, 20 minutes to Kettering, 25 minutes to Oundle, 30 minutes to Rutland, and less than 10 minutes to Uppingham.
Being a private home, there are some restrictions to protect the family's privacy and peace. There's a cut off of 8pm for access to the gardens, so any portraits you'd like in and around the rose garden, look out, and elephantine hedge need to be completed before then. Inside, there are spaces which we can use up until your wedding breakfast and the evening is based in/just outside Walkers House.
There are dedicated indoor rooms — The Great Hall, The Naval Lobby, and The Panel Room — for your drinks reception, which we can also use for wet-weather group photos. There's the option of accompanied access to The Long Gallery for pictures of the two of you. And there's also a great sheltered spot between the two towers.
If I could only pick one spot, it would be the towers as it's iconic Rockingham. But I also always make a beeline for the elephantine hedge because it's another defining feature of the castle and we can also take in the countryside views. Those spots work well year round. But there's always something of seasonal interest in the gardens, too. Every time I visit, I find a new angle and I really don't think you can go wrong anywhere.
Most couples use the lawn in front of the elephantine hedge. I also think the tower entrance or the door into the Great Hall would work wonderfully. Inside, I recommend The Great Hall, although The Panel Room works well for a few small groups. But above all, it should be wherever your drinks reception takes place so we don't spend all your time moving people around.
The Falcon in Uppingham and the Corby/Kettering Holiday Inn are popular. For guests, there's a Premier Inn five minutes away in Corby.
For a quick refuel (literal and metaphorical) there's a BP petrol station with M&S Simply Food 2 minutes away on Cottingham Road roundabout in Corby NN18 0TW. For a treat, the village shop in Bulwick has a covered terrace and the food is a dream — tapas, ploughman's, cake… heaven. Find it at NN17 3DY. Closed on Sunday/Monday. For more choice and a breath of air, Market Harborough or Uppingham have many artisan and independent stores, cafes, and restaurants.
No, travel is included. Rockingham is only half an hour or so from home, including a picky-bits pitstop at M&S Food, so an absolutely ideal commute!

Rockingham Castle gets its name from the ‘Rock’ on which it stands, the ‘Ing’ (aka a meadow) that sits between the castle and the river Welland, and the ‘Ham’ (or village) which sits below.

From the parapet, you can see five counties (Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire) - unless it’s foggy.

The rose garden was originally the castle’s keep.

Richard the Lion Heart’s brother John left his treasure chest containing the crown jewels in the Great Hall - and it’s still there. Maybe.

Charles Dickens, a friend of the Watson family and regular visitor, used the castle as inspiration for Chesney Wold in his novel ‘Bleak House’.

There, you’re all set for the local pub quiz!

Psst! Did you know *this* about Rockingham Castle?

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