Historic Isle manor house opens its doors after transformation

Hirst Priory in Crowle welcomed dignitaries to take a look around its facilities to see the changes which have been made.

Among the visitors were people who have had parties and weddings during the last year, and future brides and grooms looking forward to their big day at the venue.

Guests of honour was mayor of Crowle and Ealand, Councillor Eric Dinsdale and escort Mrs Sue Dinsdale.

Visitors who braved the wind and rain were the first to see this year’s reception hall Christmas tree designed in the style of a winter wonderland wedding dress. The idea was conceived by events director Hazel Wheatley and created by Laura Bellamy of Blush Venue Décor.

Hazel said: “We have had tremendous support from the local people on the Isle of Axholme and we thought an informal open house event would be a great way of saying thank you for the last year and to share our plans for the next. We want to make the design of our Christmas tree an annual attraction and we are delighted with the comments on our wedding dress theme for this year”.

Guests enjoyed a tour of the house and a sneak preview of 2016’s new events calendar before tucking in to a festive treat of tea, cakes and ginger shortbread mince pies, served up on fine vintage china by Tricia Murphy with all proceeds going towards the redecoration of St Mark’s Church in Amcotts.

The venue offers lots for wedding couples and to make the special day even more memorable customised scents are now available.

Hazel added: “One of our five main senses, the sense of smell, is the one that is most strongly linked to memory.

“Hirst Priory is offering new brides and grooms the opportunity to choose a scene to subtly drift through the venue during their wedding day, to add to the happy mood and to fix the big day firmly in th minds of their guests for years to come.”

Mayor Dinsdale’s visit was in connection with a community event planned for September 24/25 in 2016, the “Crowle and Ealand 1940’s Wartime Weekend” in which Hirst Priory will host 300 party goers for a big band night of vintage entertainment on the Saturday evening.