Last week I wrote about a visit to Pashley Manor, the estate where Anne Boleyn – the tragic, second wife of King Henry VIII – spent time as a child. However, she grew up primarily at Hever Castle, which is some 30 miles (48km) from Pashley. While Pashley Manor is quaintly picturesque, Hever Castle is altogether grander, as befitting the social status of Anne’s family.
Hever Castle’s origins lie in the 13th century, when it was simply a country house with a number of outbuildings. Its rebirth as a castle began in 1271 when the owner was granted a license to crenelate it, in other words to erect battlements in the style of a castle. In the 14th century the transformation continued with the construction of the walls, towers, a moat and a grand gatehouse.
The Boleyn family took possession of Hever in 1462, and in the decades that followed “modernised” it in accordance with the fashions of the age. Anne lived here from about 1500. However her family were ambitious for her, and so in 1513 they sent her abroad to the court of Archduchess Margaret in the Netherlands to learn the skills required by a successful royal courtier.
Upon her return Anne soon caught the eye of Henry VIII, who was notoriously randy and had a roving eye to match. Their courtship is thought to have taken place partly at Hever, where the King may even have stayed on occasions while chasing his dream. Eventually – inevitably, I suppose, given his royal status- Henry got his girl.
The courtyard
But, as history tells us, things did not work out as either party had hoped, and in 1536 Henry had Anne executed on what one strongly suspects were trumped-up charges. She was accused of satisfying her “frail and carnal appetites” by having sexual relationships with no fewer than five courtiers, including her brother, George Boleyn and the king’s good friend Sir Henry Norris . Anne was also accused of plotting with her lovers to have Henry killed.
“The Astor Wing” dates from the early 20th century, but was built to look much older
Anne’s father, Thomas Boleyn, continued to live at Hever until his death in 1539. His brother inherited the castle, but sold it to Henry VIII the following year. The King in turn gave it to Anne of Cleves – his fourth wife! – as part of her divorce settlement.
Some grand rooms, but not at all Tudor (William Waldorf Astor was here!)
In the centuries that followed Hever passed through many hands until, in 1903, it was bought by William Waldorf Astor, reputedly the USA’s wealthiest man. By this time Hever Castle had fallen into disrepair, so Astor commissioned a major restoration project as well as the creation of new pleasure gardens. It was a huge, costly undertaking, employing 748 men to work on the castle itself, and a further 800 men to excavate a 38 acre (15ha) lake. The results were spectacular, creating the Hever that visitors see today.
IMAGE CREDIT: English school, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (The painting dates from 1550)
The Anne Boleyn connection is a key part of Hever Castle’s tourist offer to visitors, but would she even recognise the place? Although the moat and external views of the gatehouse and a couple of other buildings might look familiar, I suspect that on closer inspection she would feel like a stranger in a strange land. Hever is an amalgam of styles and fashions, its Tudor past sanitised and largely buried by Astor’s efforts and those of countless other owners.
Astor was here too! The Italian Garden that visitors enjoy at Hever today was commissioned by him.
Does this really matter? No, I guess not. Hever is a fascinating place in its own right, but is of limited help to history students seeking insights into the life and times of Anne Boleyn. Visitors should enjoy Hever for what it is, without falling into the trap of believing that it throws much light on the realities of life in Tudor England. It doesn’t!
____ ____ ____ ____ ____
Note for regular readers of this blog: Summer is fast approaching, although as I listen to the rain pummelling down outside it’s a bit difficult to believe right now! We already have two big trips to Scotland, planned for summer / early autumn, and no doubt we’ll think of a few other places to visit too. All this will provide me with lots more material to write about, while at the same time eating into the time I set aside for writing. So, for the next few months, my schedule will be to blog once every two weeks. I will aim to publish on alternate Wednesdays. Weekly posts should resume in November.
Now I'm 64 
Another interesting post – feel I am learning a lot about the ‘stately homes’ in the UK that I have never visited. Enjoy your summer when it comes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Since retiring I’ve discovered there are many more “stately homes” here than I’d ever imagined. A genuine case of the good, the bad and the ugly!
LikeLike
What a charming place! More appealing than all the stately homes I’ve visited through your blog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
An opulent example, to be sure, no expense has been spared. You can even pay to get married at Hever (there was a wedding party underway in the gardens while we were there), but I suspect not many folk could afford it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The family’s ambitions sure didn’t do Anne any good. Strangely enough, I was reminded of the pop star Brittany Spears, whose father had a stranglehold hold on her life and her money. Times might change, but the desire for status and money remains constant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a fascinating insight. At least Britney’s head is still attached to her shoulders, but from what I’ve read of her situation her mental health must have suffered enormously. Very sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, at least Brittney kept her head. Still, what an abusive situation. And all for money.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy the outings and I look forward to the reports!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Hopefully the weather will improve, or our plans for the summer will be a washout!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another impressive building full of history.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It definitely has the “wow factor!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hever Castle and its extensive grounds are very imposing. Thank you for another interesting tour through Britain’s history. One can’t quite grasp how much money has been put into this place (and other sites) throughout the centuries. One wonders what would have happened without Astor’s infusion of vast sums of money.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had Astor – or another investor with similar cash reserves – not come forward, Hever may ultimately have been demolished. It’s happened to many other stately / historic homes when the owners found themselves unable to pay for the ongoing upkeep of the their unwieldy estates.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find it hard to imagine how many buildings which cost so much to erect were demolished because there were no funds for the upkeep. What an absolute waste.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s been an enormous amount of social change here since the start of the 20th century, most of it positive, but one of the unfortunate side-effects has been the loss of many architectural gems when “old money” families found themselves unable to make a living in the modern world. We are fortunate that Astor, and others of his ilk, stepped in to save many more gems from the bulldozer and – in many cases – enhanced them too.
LikeLike
I’ve visited the gardens at Hever, but didn’t go inside the castle, so this was a fascinating read. Enjoy your trips to Scotland – I look forward to hearing about them in the future!
LikeLike
A fascinating part of history. Very tragic about Anne Boleyn though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Anne Boleyn was massively abused by her bullying tyrant of a husband. Shameful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very much so, how he treated all his wives was so sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Anne.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, abominably treated by a cruel and callous man.
LikeLike