Shortly before Christmas I was booked to photograph a small section of a 90th birthday party at the beautiful Kimbolton Castle, Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire.

Despite being little more than 15 minutes up the road from my home, this was the first time I’d properly visited the site – I’d driven past it a few times.

Kimbolton Castle

The original Kimbolton Castle was built on a different site in the village during the Norman period. When it was granted the right to hold markets during the reign of King John, a new castle was constructed at the opposite end of the settlement from the church. While nothing remains from this castle, it is the site upon which the present castle sits.

Precisely when the Tudor castle was built appears to be something of a mystery, though it is said that by the time the Wingfield family assumed ownership in 1520, it had already passed through several sets of hands.

Perhaps most famously, it was to Kimbolton Castle that Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England between 1509 and 1533 and first wife of King Henry VIII, was sent in 1534 for refusing to give up her status or deny the validity of her marriage. She died less than two years later, though it is alleged that her spirit remains in residence!

Sir Henry Montagu, later 1st Earl of Manchester, bought the castle in 1615 and his descendants owned it for an impressive 335 years. During the family’s tenure, much of the castle was remodelled, and it was used by the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War II.

When the castle and its associated park land were sold in 1951, they were purchased by Kimbolton School, which still utilises the site (and another at the opposite end of the village) today.

Today, as well as serving an educational purpose, Kimbolton Castle also offers itself as a stunning wedding venue at weekends and on a limited basis during the week outside of term time. The location really would be a wedding photographer’s dream!

The birthday girl

The venue held particular significance for Jean, it being somewhere she and her family had lived while her husband had taught at the school.

Jean looked absolutely delighted as one by one members of her family arrived to celebrate her special day.

Happy birthday, Jean!

Searching for your own wedding photographer?

If you are looking for a wedding photographer and you’ve not already done so, please take a look at: Wedding Photography Packages – Karl Drage, Northampton wedding photographer.

For more information on what happens when you decide you want me to photograph your wedding, please see: WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY by Karl Drage – How I Work.

To see an example post looking at how I try to tell the story of a wedding day, please take a look at My Wedding Photography Style.

Get in Contact

If you’d like to enquire about my availability, to discuss other options or if you have any queries, please use one of the methods on the Contact Us page to get in touch.

I am based in Northamptonshire but I am willing to travel out of area, though please be aware this may bring with it an additional cost.

Karl Drage is a professional Northamptonshire wedding photographer who also covers surrounding counties such as Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Rutland, Oxfordshire & Warwickshire. If you are looking for an affordable wedding photographer in the towns of Northampton, Kettering, Wellingborough, Oundle, Corby, Peterborough, Leicester, Huntingdon, Towcester, Rugby, Daventry, Oakham or nearby, please use one of the methods on the Contact Us page to get in touch. He will be only too happy to go through your needs with you and will endeavour to put together a competitive solution that meets them.