Tilbrook, Cambridgeshire — A proposal to retain a seasonal wedding venue on land containing a medieval moat has been rejected by Huntingdonshire District Council, amid ongoing concerns over its impact on the historic site and surrounding countryside.
Hardwick Moat Weddings, which began hosting ceremonies at the rural location near Tilbrook in 2021, had applied for retrospective planning permission for a marquee, glamping tents, and associated car parking. However, the council denied the application for a second time, citing the area’s “high archaeological potential” and the development’s adverse effect on the landscape.
The venue is situated on land that includes historic earthworks believed to date back to the medieval period. Despite reassurances from the applicants that the impact on the site was minimal, council officers expressed reservations over physical alterations and the presence of heavy machinery.
In the latest submission, the company said the marquee is erected only between April and September and that bell tents used for glamping are set up and taken down over wedding weekends. They argued that no significant ground-invasive work had been carried out and that the proposal represented a form of farm diversification, providing both an income stream for the landowner and broader economic benefits for the local area.
“The potential impact on archaeological remains can be ruled out,” the application stated. “The proposal supports local employment and contributes to the rural economy.”
However, planning officers pointed to earlier evidence, including photographs from a withdrawn application, showing use of heavy equipment and alterations to the moat area — such as reshaping and stripping of turf from the central platform.
“There remains a risk of impact to the archaeological integrity of the site,” council documentation noted. “Activities such as de-turfing and use of heavy vehicles may disturb subsurface features.”
The council further concluded that the development would undermine the area’s rural character, introducing “incongruous and intrusive” elements into the open countryside and narrowing the visual separation between Tilbrook village and its surrounding green space.
The refusal highlights a broader tension between rural economic development and heritage conservation, particularly on sites with unexcavated or unprotected historical significance. It remains unclear whether Hardwick Moat Weddings will pursue further applications or appeals following the latest decision.
