Wedding Photography in Histon & Impington: Bauhaus Architecture & Village Charm

Histon and Impington are twin villages 3 miles north of Cambridge — a pair of communities that merged practically but retain their distinct character. For photography, they offer an unusual combination: one of the most architecturally significant 20th-century buildings in England (Impington Village College, designed by Walter Gropius and Maxwell Fry), handsome village churches, and the Apple Day harvest history of the old orchard village.

Impington Village College: a Gropius masterpiece

Impington Village College was designed in 1939 by Walter Gropius — founder of the Bauhaus — and Maxwell Fry. It is considered one of the most important works of modern architecture in England and is Grade II* listed. The curved brick colonnade, the distinctive first-floor windows, and the playful modernism of the design create a photography setting entirely unlike anything else near Cambridge.

For couples who work in architecture, design, or the arts — or simply want engagement portraits in a setting that is historically extraordinary — Impington Village College is worth knowing about. The grounds around the building are accessible; the building itself requires prior permission for still photography.

Churches and village character

• ◆St Andrew's Church, Histon: handsome Norman and Early English building, used for village weddings. The churchyard is beautifully maintained with mature yews and a lychgate.
• ◆St Andrew's Church, Impington: smaller and quieter than its Histon neighbour, with a 14th-century tower. The surrounding village green retains genuine old-village character.
• ◆The village pubs and green: The Boot pub on the green and the surrounding streets of 18th-century Cambridgeshire brick give a useful urban backdrop between formal ceremony shots.

The Chivers family and orchard history

The Chivers family — fruit growers whose jam and preserves business became nationally known — were centred in Histon from the 1870s. The old Chivers' Orchard site preserves something of the orchard landscape the village was once known for. In spring blossom or autumn harvest, the orchard aesthetic is a particular photographic gift: blossom-covered trees, dappled light, couple portraits in a setting that feels like it belongs to a different England entirely.