Holly and Jack at Thornbridge Hall Derbyshire.

Thornbridge has a long and layered history, beginning as the home of the Longsdon family, who lived on the estate from the 12th century right through to the late 1700s. The property changed hands in 1790 when John Morewood, a successful linen merchant, purchased it for £10,000 and expanded the original house.

A major transformation came in 1871 under Frederick Craven, who rebuilt the residence in a striking Jacobean style. However, much of what stands today is thanks to George Marples, a Sheffield lawyer who took ownership in 1896. Marples extended the house to almost its current size and designed the surrounding gardens. He also acquired large areas of neighbouring land, employed a sizeable household staff, and was affectionately referred to as “Lord Marples.” During his tenure, estate cottages, lodges, and even a private railway station—now Thornbridge Outdoors—were constructed.

The estate entered a new chapter in 1930 when Charles Boot, head of a prominent Sheffield construction firm, became the owner. After the fire at Clumber Park in 1938, Boot’s company was tasked with dismantling the remains of the grand house. He salvaged numerous architectural features—statues, fountains, and decorative facades—and incorporated them into Thornbridge Hall.

Following Boot’s death, Sheffield City Council purchased the estate in 1945 for £42,000, intending to convert it into a teacher training college. Renovations were carried out, and by 1948 the first cohort of 60 trainee teachers had arrived. Teaching continued until 1975, after which the Hall served as a multi‑purpose education centre for South Yorkshire.

Private ownership resumed in 1997 when the Hunt family acquired the property and began restoring the formal gardens and removing unsympathetic additions. In 2002, the Harrison family became the new custodians. Emma Harrison had first seen Thornbridge as a young girl on a cultural exchange trip and never forgot it. When she and her husband Jim bought the estate, they embarked on extensive restoration work to revive its character. Their efforts included refurbishing the main house, the music room, the Carriage House, Gardeners Cottage, both lodges, and rebuilding the Orangery, along with significant new construction to unify the estate.

Although still a private family residence, Thornbridge has evolved into one of the country’s most sought‑after venues for weddings and events, celebrated for its beauty, heritage, and meticulous restoration.

Bride and groom walking outdoors in a garden, both smiling, bride in white dress and veil, groom in black suit with boutonnière.
A woman smiling while wearing cream-colored pajamas, holding a card in her hands, in a room with wooden panel walls and a bed with bags and clothes in the background.
Woman smiling at mirror while getting ready, with makeup artist in background and a glass of champagne on the table.
Two women at a gathering, one holding a plate with a croissant and the other with a glass of orange juice, in a warmly decorated room with wooden accents and a large window.
Two women in black pajamas enjoying a glass of rosé champagne and chatting indoors, with one woman gesturing as she speaks.
Two women in black pajamas laughing and holding glasses of pink champagne at a celebration or gathering.
A woman in pajamas opening a gift bag labeled "Bride" at a table with gifts and drinks, in a wood-paneled room.
Smiling woman in white shirt giving a ring to another woman with an elegant updo hairstyle in black clothing, in a room with wooden paneling.
A woman with short brown hair holding a sleeping baby on her shoulder, with another woman with blonde hair smiling and extending her hand.
A woman with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a cream-colored satin pajama top with lace cuffs looks surprised with her hands covering her mouth, while another woman with brown hair, holding a baby, smiles in the background inside a cozy room with d
A woman with long blonde hair, smiling and looking at the camera, wearing a dark shirt, indoors with a dark background.
Two women celebrating with champagne glasses, one with curly gray hair wearing a dark satin pajama top, the other with blonde hair in a silk pajama top, smiling and laughing in a warmly lit room with a wooden wall.
A woman holding a sleeping baby against her shoulder indoors.
A woman with blonde hair and a big smile, wearing a black satin pajama top, holding a champagne flute, in a warmly lit room.
Two women in black pajamas standing indoors, one holding a snack, the other smiling with teeth showing, in a room with wooden panels and a framed picture on the wall.
Close-up of a woman smiling while getting her hair styled, with a hairstylist working in the background.
A woman with brown hair is getting her makeup done, with her eyes closed, while a makeup artist applies eyeshadow with a brush.
A woman in a satin robe is smiling and looking at a card or invitation.
A woman with curly gray hair smiling and kneeling on a bed, holding a baby's hand. The baby is lying on the bed wearing a white outfit. There is a black backpack on the bed and a woman in the background in a dark outfit.
Group of seven women in pajamas and slippers standing in a hotel room.
A bride with a veil covering her face stands in front of a groom who is wiping his face with his hand in a brightly decorated ornate room. Two other men, one facing away, are also present, and the bride is smiling in a mirror reflection.
A woman in a white wedding dress with a V-neck, standing indoors with a dark wooden door behind her and a textured wall to her right. She is wearing a sheer, embroidered veil and has blonde hair and a smile.
A large group of wedding guests seated in a decorated room, facing forward, with a man in a tuxedo standing at the back.
A bride and groom at a wedding reception on a wooden balcony, with a decorative chandelier in the foreground and ornate ceiling and wallpaper in the background.
Groom in black tuxedo with a bow tie, standing among wedding guests, looking upwards, at a wedding ceremony.
A baby is being held by an adult woman, sleeping peacefully on her shoulder, with another woman to the side looking on.
A woman with light hair styled in a vintage updo, smiling softly, wearing a satin pajama top, in black and white.
Decorative display with a circular metal frame adorned with white roses, green leaves, and curly ribbons. Hanging from the top center of the frame, a heart-shaped light with a small white tag that says "The Saradadyhs." Inside the frame, there is a s
Four men are engaged in a conversation in front of a large screen displaying an app store interface. The three men facing the camera are standing, and one man with a beard and glasses hanging on his shirt is leaning on a red chair. The background sug
A man with a beard and light brown hair holding a glass of water and talking to two other men in a room with a large digital screen in the background.
Three men are focused on a task, with the man on the left wearing a white Air Dior t-shirt, the man in the middle wearing glasses and a dark blue shirt, and the man on the right in a light checkered shirt, indoors near large windows.
A man is adjusting his collar while looking into a mirror, preparing for an event. The reflection shows his face and upper body, with a window and red curtains in the background.
A man in a white dress shirt looks at himself in a mirror, adjusting his cuff, as he gets ready.
A smiling man with a beard, wearing a white shirt, sitting in a room with a beige wall and fire alarm switches, holding a black object in his hand.
Smiling man in black-rimmed glasses and white shirt, holding his chest, engaging with young man in formal vest and shirt in a bar or restaurant.
A man with short brown hair, dressed in a white shirt and black bow tie, is adjusting his collar. He is standing indoors with a window and lamp in the background.
Three men in tuxedos at a formal event, with one man wearing sunglasses and holding a perfume bottle, speaking to the others.
Two men in tuxedos talking at a formal event, one holding a perfume bottle, the other wearing sunglasses, with warm-toned lighting and blurred background.
A decorative gold-framed mirror with a black background displaying a wedding welcome sign. The sign reads: "Welcome to our wedding Jack & Holly, 3rd August 2024, Thornbridge Hall."
Wedding reception table set with glassware, black napkins, floral centerpieces, and candles, in a room with large windows and wooden decor.
Large historic stone mansion with ivy-covered walls, multiple windows, and a front porch, surrounded by a well-maintained lawn with outdoor tables, umbrellas, and chairs, under a blue sky with some clouds.
Five men gather around a large wooden table in a dining room, with some objects and papers on the table, and a large window with red curtains behind them.
A young man with a beard and short blond hair smiling while working on a camera.
Four men in a meeting room, one looking at phone, others standing behind red chairs, documents, remote, and glass of water on wooden table.
Three men in a room, with one shirtless, examining clothing on a rack, with a large screen and a conference table surrounded by chairs in the background.
Three men in formal attire, with one adjusting the other's cuff, in a modern indoor setting.
A man is looking at his reflection in a mirror, adjusting his tuxedo collar, with candles on candelabras in front of him, inside a room with windows and frames on the windowsills.
Three men, dressed in formal attire, are standing in a warmly lit restaurant, with two large spherical hanging lamps overhead and green, leafy trees visible through the windows in the background.
A man is helping another man to put on a vest, with a third person observing, in a room with windows and red curtains.
A man in a tuxedo with a bow tie and glasses smiles as he looks into a mirror, holding a shaver near his face.
Six men in black tuxedos with bow ties, standing in a line with hands in pockets, wearing sunglasses, indoors with dim lighting and string lights in the background.
Six men in tuxedos, walking confidently on a paved path with trees and a building in the background, all wearing sunglasses, in black-and-white photography.
Two men in tuxedos, one holding a baby, smiling and looking at the baby.
Two men in tuxedos holding a baby, smiling and looking at the baby, in a room with bookshelves and framed photos.
Group of six men dressed in tuxedos, standing in a line with one man holding a baby, all smiling. The setting appears to be a formal event or celebration in a wood-paneled room.
A group of men dressed in formal tuxedos and vests are clinking beer glasses in a cheerful toast in a warmly decorated room.
Group of seven men dressed in tuxedos and vests, standing in a line indoors, smiling and posing for the camera.
Six men dressed in tuxedos and vests are standing and laughing in a room with wood-paneled walls, near a pool table and dartboard. There are snacks, water bottles, and a remote on the table in front of them.
Black and white photo of a bride and groom walking down the steps during their wedding ceremony, with the bride holding a bouquet and smiling while the groom looks down, holding her hand.
Group of people attending a formal event indoors, including a woman in a hat and yellow dress, a man in a tuxedo, and a man in the foreground dressed for a tuxedo, with a floral boutonniere.
A bride walking down the aisle hand-in-hand with her father during a wedding ceremony, surrounded by seated guests in a wood-paneled room with floral wallpaper.
A bride and groom during their wedding ceremony in a church, with guests seated in the background.
A groom and bride holding hands during their wedding ceremony in a wood-paneled room with seated guests watching.
A man in a tuxedo with a bow tie is seated at a wedding or formal event, surrounded by other well-dressed people, some of whom are women with floral accents or bouquets.
Bride and groom exchanging rings at their wedding ceremony, surrounded by family and friends in a wood-paneled room.
A wedding ceremony with a bride and groom holding hands and standing in front of an officiant. The ceremony takes place in a richly decorated wooden room with floral arrangements, candles, and rose petals on the floor.
A newlywed couple, a woman in a white wedding dress and veil and a man in a black tuxedo, sitting at a table with flowers, smiling for a photo in a wood-paneled room during their wedding ceremony.
A wedding scene with a bride and groom walking down stairs outdoors surrounded by guests, under a decorative stone archway, on a sunny day with greenery around.
A bride and groom walking hand in hand through a crowd of wedding guests outdoors, throwing flower petals or rice at them, smiling, on a sunny day with green trees and historic buildings in the background.
A bride and groom holding hands and smiling at their wedding celebration outdoors, surrounded by guests throwing flower petals.
A bride and groom smiling and holding hands as they are showered with flower petals during their wedding celebration outdoors.
Group of six people at a wedding, including bride in a white gown with a veil, groom in a tuxedo, and four older women and man dressed in colorful formal attire, standing on grass in front of stone columns and greenery.
Group of wedding party members, women in black dresses and men in tuxedos, standing on grass in outdoor setting, smiling and laughing.
A bride and groom at their wedding reception sitting at a table with guests, smiling and laughing, with large windows in the background.
A black and white photo of a couple in wedding attire standing on the steps of an old, large brick mansion with multiple chimneys and ornate windows. They are holding hands and facing each other, with a garden and flowers surrounding the staircase.
A newlywed couple in wedding attire face each other outdoors, smiling and embracing, with a lush green background.

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