Hever Castle - Henry Vlll & Anne Boleyn

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Summary

Enjoy a day exploring Hever Castle, the family home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII. The castle witnessed the couple’s scandalous love affair, with the king’s infatuation with Anne bringing about the Break with Rome and Reformation in England. Hever provided the backdrop to their passion, with Anne at first refusing Henry’s advances, before agreeing to become his second wife in 1533. The king’s love soon faded and Anne was executed on trumped up charges of adultery and incest in May 1536 due to her failure to provide the king with an heir.

During a guided morning visit to the castle, accompanied by Tudor historian, Elizabeth Norton, we will explore parts of the castle not usually accessible to visitors. We will visit the surviving medieval rooms of the castle, as well as those commissioned by Anne’s father, Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire, early in the sixteenth century. The castle eventually fell into ruin, before being extensively restored by the Astor family in the early twentieth century. We can also explore the landscape created by the Astor family.

In the afternoon, we will enjoy talks by Elizabeth Norton both on the history of the castle and on the fascinating relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.