Old Wardour Castle

About the venue

Old Wardour Castle sits dramatically as the centrepiece to a beautiful and romantic landscape beside a secluded lake deep in the Wiltshire countryside.

Inspired by a French chateau, it was built in the late 14th century by the fifth Lord John Lovel. The castle was used as a luxurious home, which reflected Lord Lovel’s status as a nobleman and his immense wealth, gained from his marriage to well connected heiress Maud Holand. During the English Civil War in the 1640s however, the castle was damaged beyond repair. In the 1700s, the Arundell family integrated the ruins into the landscaped grounds of their new home. Ruins were popular in picturesque landscapes as a reminder of a world of knightly chivalry and Old Wardour was no exception. Today, the ruined walls, gothic stairways and lakeside setting offer a storybook location for events. The distinctive hexagonal walls are instantly recognisable as the backdrop for scenes from the film ‘Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves’, starring Kevin Costner. Most recently, the Castle has been licensed for civil wedding ceremonies.