Plan your Elopement at
bilsington Priory or Manor House – near ashford, kent, england
Estimated reading time: 18 minutes
Bilsington Priory and Manor House, near Ashford
Kent, England
Plan your petite elopement, drive-through wedding or Sologamy wedding at our most flexible wedding venue, Bilsington Priory Estate, which includes a Priory and Manor House. The home of Team E-Lope.
The Priory is available for intimate weddings for two to ten people, making it perfect for an official elopement during the summer and the cosy Manor House over winter.
Your e-lopement team will style your elopement in a modern but personal, unique and exquisite way. All you have to do is share your Spotify tracks and Pinterest board from anywhere in the world, and we will create a petite wedding that resonates with your style, complete with your soundtrack.
Your tiny luxury intimate wedding on the very special Bilsington Priory Estate.
At a Glance
bilsington priory
Choose from Four tiny wedding packages
1. The Modern Afternoon Brunch inside the Priory or outside in Gardens
2. A Modern Afternoon Tea in the Bilsington Manor House
4. Marry yourself, Solgamy weddings.
Intimate Elopements at the ancient bilsington Priory
During the summer licensed indoor ceremonies can be held within the Great Hall of Bilsington Priory.
Outside ceremonies take place during British Summertime in the Enchanted Garden adjacent to one of the former monks’ ponds.
If you have a love for churches and are charmed by English history, Bilsington Priory is one of Kent’s most stunning and ancient wedding venues. Brimming with atmosphere, it offers you the ultimate private backdrop for your regal-style celebrations.
Alternatively, marry in the cosy, sitting room of the Manor House infront of the log burning fire place.
And so your Priory adventure begins…
Behind the Red Brick Walls: The Edwardian Manor House at Bilsington Priory
Nestled gracefully in the storied landscape between Folkestone and Ashford, Bilsington Priory draws history lovers with its beautifully preserved 13th-century priory. Yet, for those with a keen eye, an equally enchanting treasure awaits just beyond the water: a grand red-brick Edwardian Manor House quietly enchanting all who cross its threshold for a classic, quintessential English afternoon tea, an elopement, or an intimate wedding.
The Manor House
In 1906, R.H. Balston, a scion of Kent’s historic papermaking dynasty, commissioned this striking country Manor House, envisioning an estate where past and present might stand amiably side by side. To realise this vision, Balston selected architect John Thomas Micklethwaite, renowned for his sensitive restoration of ecclesiastical buildings. While Micklethwaite preserved the medieval contours of the priory, alongside this project, he crafted the stunning manor house in a traditional Kentish style, ensuring this new creation would sit harmoniously within the local tapestry, perfectly balancing time-honoured character with the gracious ease of Edwardian comfort.
Full of Character
Enclosed by a medieval moat and framed by formal lawns, trees, and the gentle murmur of garden life, the Manor House offers a tableau of timeless English charm. The rich red brickwork, soaring chimneys, and sharp gables recall an elegant era.
Step inside to discover oak-panelled walls, a grand staircase, intricate fireplaces, and ceilings that rise with quiet grandeur. In summer, the fragrance of lavender drifts through open windows; in winter, the snap of a log on the fire invites stories and laughter. Here, scuffed muddy boots and polished shoes both find their place in a lobby guarded by stone dog statues, grand enough for guests and yet intimate enough for a wonderful family home.
In Conversation with the Past
The Edwardian country Manor House and the Medieval Priory are a harmonious study: one steeped in ritual and reflection, the other alive with domestic energy and the pleasures of country living.
Standing side by side, the buildings feel intrinsically linked, the narrative arc of a place continuing and deepening, each detail a brushstroke in a larger, living portrait. Built over 650 years apart, the two buildings now welcome modern love stories, where elopements, intimate ceremonies and cosy winter teas soften their noble lines.
The architect
John Thomas Micklethwaite (1843–1906) was one of the foremost architects of his day and Surveyor of the Fabric at Westminster Abbey. Born in Yorkshire and educated at King’s College London before training with the great Gothic revivalist Sir George Gilbert Scott, Micklethwaite became known for his thoughtful belief that each generation should add to history rather than erase it.
With the same eye that safeguarded Westminster Abbey, he created a home that feels both noble and intimate. His story came to rest at the Abbey, where he lies buried in the West Cloister, a fitting and final chapter for a man devoted to architecture, memory, and belonging.
A Private Family Retreat
Today, the manor house is animated by the gentle stewardship of Libby and Chris, who share its spaces with attentive dogs and a cat called Zara (who often makes an appearance during your elopement), whom we all adore, guardians of tradition and gardens alike. Their daily lives bring soul and rhythm to the estate: dogs trot along the paths to the Edwardian Stables, vases of homegrown blooms adorn the hallway beneath a portrait of Libby’s beautiful mother, and most days the scent of homemade scones and cake drifts from the kitchen, ready for the afternoon tea guests.
Overnight Accommodation
A four-poster bed promises a restorative night in the West Wing, followed by a delicious full English breakfast the following morning. In addition there are a couple of other rooms you can book before or after eloping.
Afternoon Tea, Reimagined
Afternoon tea at the Manor House is a ritual treasured by all who visit. Served following an intimate wedding in the Great Hall of the Priory in the library, drawing room, or parlour. Teacups chime quietly, and tiers of homemade sausage rolls, sandwiches, and cakes appear like from chapter one of a beloved novel. Each guest is made to feel like an old friend returned home.
The Setting for Beautiful Moments
The Edwardian Manor House offers a rare blend of understated luxury and personal welcome for couples celebrating their vows or getting married at Bilsington Priory. Afternoon teas, abundant grazing platters, and even Keto menus for modern tastes provide a backdrop for gathering, laughter, and the simple joy of being enfolded in the quiet splendour of the English countryside overlooking the Priory and gardens. For a day, the Manor House feels entirely, enchantingly, your own.
At Bilsington Priory, hospitality flows with generosity, not by rule, but by instinct, which was is instilled in Libby by her grandmother.
Bilsington Priory
Packages
E-T&Cs Kent
VAT is not applicable, in that it is included in any pricing
All we require £1,000 non-refundable retainer to secure your elopement, with the remainder paid four weeks before the E-Lopement intimate wedding date.
The photographer may require you to sign their own T&Cs, and ideally we would love you to give us all of your gallery or just detail of, for example your feet and hands as this helps us with marketing to other couples like you.
Additional fees
Please note that whilst we reserve your legal wedding with Kent County Council, you must pay them directly.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO ARRIVE AT THE VENUE ON TIME, READY AND WITH YOUR RINGS!
Ceremony only elopements
2026 – £1,950
Whether you’re a couple looking to escape the traditional wedding, who prioritise a more relaxed and personal union, a ‘mid-day’ ceremony elopement offers you a delightful blend of sophistication and simplicity during the day allowing you to go off for a fabulous evening meal at a local restaurant, disappear for a minimoon or buddymoon with your witnesses or just to go home and lounge on the sofa inorder to take in your petite big ceremony
spring, summer, autumn and winter elopements
2026/27 – £2,720
Celebrate your special petite day with our exclusive elopement package at Bilsington Priory. Begin your journey together with a ceremony in the enchanting gardens or within the Great Hall of the Priory followed by a delightful cake cutting and a choice of afternoon tea or grazing players.
For a more indulgent experience, treat yourselves and up to ten guests to a traditional three-course meal prepared by a private chef and served in the Great Hall – price on application.
Additional
Information
Please note whilst we reserve your legal wedding with Kent County Council you will need to pay them directly – details will follow once you have paid the non-refundable deposit to the E-lopement team.
Additional Guests up to six maximum are charged at £100.00 each. This includes sharing boards and 1 additional bottle of bubbles.
Children are charged at £50.00 if above 12 £35.00 if below 12 – we do not charge or provide for babies as parents tend to know what they love eat and bring their own food
The Team At
Bilsington Priory
Near ASHFORD, KENT
Hi, we are your E-Lopement team, and we cannot wait to make your luxury E-Lope dreams come true in Kent, England.
Sam, The Wedding Owl, your experienced E-Lopement wedding planner
Ruth, House of Mimi Fleur is an incredible bespoke and luxury wedding florist who will style your elopement day to make it so unique in every way!
The award-winning Serena, Cobi & Coco creates beautiful bespoke wedding cakes and wedding favours, custom-designed to match your elopement styling.
Fleur, Fleur Challis Photography is your amazing elopement photographer. She is on hand to capture your intimate and special moments and all the exquisite details. She will ensure your elopement images are so beautiful that you cannot wait to share them with friends and family on Instagram!
Libby, the owner of Bilsington Priory, creates your gorgeous Afternoon Tea.
In addition to the above, there is the Venue Manager, who knows precisely what is needed to make your elopement day become a dream come true.
All you have to do is arrive at the Priory on time, ready and with your rings and licence to marry.
Just arrive at The Priory on time, ready with your rings, and we will take care of the rest. x Sam
Ready for an elopement as unique as you are?