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Path: Photos > England > South East England > Kent > Hever Castle: the ghost of Anne Boleyn
Tags: UK  England  Kent  2025  StatelyHome  News

Hever Castle: the ghost of Anne Boleyn

 

(vero;2026-March-30)

Built in the 14th century, Hever Castle was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I. After the downfall and execution of Anne in 1536, Hever passed into the ownership of Anne of Cleves (4th wife of Henry VIII). After her death in 1557 it reverted to the Crown and was acquired by Sir Edward Waldegrave, the first of many later owners of the castle.

The house we see today is the result of works undertaken by the American millionaire William Waldorf Astor, who used his fortune to restore and extend the Castle between 1903 and 1908 . He created the "Tudor Village", a series of cottages in Tudor style to house guests and commissioned the construction of the gardens and lake. Inside the castle, while making the castle fit for the 20th century, he took care of keeping the rooms in the style of the Tudor time.

The park with its lake makes for a pleasant walk and before leaving make sure to visit the Miniature Model Houses Exhibition showing models of stately homes from Tudor to Victorian times.

We visited in August 2025, the entrance fee to the castle and gardens for an adult was 25£ if booked online (28£ if purchased on entry). There is a concession for seniors and students (22£ online when we visited). Click here for up-to-date price and visitor information.

Don't miss the second gallery below the first one which shows the Park and the Miniature Model Houses Exhibition.

The House

Approaching the castle.
The entrance with a bridge over the moat. The cottages of the Tudor village can be seen in the background. Looks quite quaint if you ask me. The inner courtyard of the castle. Portrait of William Waldorf Astor. The drawing room. Check this video to see more. On a window sill of the drawing room. King Henry VIII and a smaller portrait of his son the future Edward VI. Edward VI. View of the Minstrels' gallery with its walnut panelling above the Inner Hall. Detail of the wood panelling, full Tudor style. "The Yule Log" by Robert Alexander Hillingford showing the Inner Hall before the restoration work and the installation of the Minstrels' Gallery by William Waldorf Astor. The Yule Log is a Pagan tradition where a special log is selected to be burnt around Christmas. The Dining Hall (or Great Hall). Check this video to see more. The Library. Fireplace with intricate wood panelling in the Morning Room. Portrait of Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne Boleyn. Tapestry of a hunting scene. Detail of the tapestry in picture 22. Detail of the tapestry in picture 22. View of the Inner Hall from the Minstrels' gallery. King Henry VIII's Bedchamber Two of Anne Boleyn's Books of Hours are displayed in the Book of Hours Room. This is one of them, check this video to learn about them. The medieval oratory chapel. The Long Gallery. It was built by Anne of Cleves in the 16th century and was used for entertaining guests. Twenty-four portraits (from Henry VI to Henry VIII) hanging in chronological order are telling the story of the War of the Roses and the history of the Tudor dynasty. Check this video to learn more about this gallery. Two portraits of Anne Boleyn. A room with a view, note the ornate window frame. An old German sword inscribed with the words "Wenn ich mein Schwert thue aufheben, so wünsche ich dem armen Sünder das ewige Leben" which means "When I wield my sword, I wish eternal life upon the poor sinner". A medieval armor.

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The Park and the Miniature Model Houses Exhibition

Approaching the castle with orchards and some nice topiary. The Tudor cottages can be seen in the background.
View of the Tudor cottages built by William Waldorf Astor to house guests. This hedge in the Tudor garden would need a trimming: it represents the pieces of a game of chess. Approaching the Italian garden. In the Italian garden. The loggia and its colonnade at the lake end of the Italian garden. Below the colonnade of the loggia, a piazza with its classical sculpture inspired by the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Another view of the colonnade. The lake. View of the castle from the moat. The garden inside the moat is called the Tudor garden. A Miniature House Tudor Style. The exhibition can be accessed from the castle shop. Dressing the table in the miniature Tudor house. Peeking through the windows of the miniature Georgian house. The arrival of guests in the Georgian house. The library in the Georgian house. If you have time, you could pay a visit to the parish church of Hever next to the castle's entrance and admire the tomb of Sir Thomas Bullen, father of Anne Boleyn and grandfather of Queen Elizabeth I. Thomas Bullen's tomb. Close-up of Thomas Bullen's face and the motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense".

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Go back to Churches of the Romney Marsh or go on to Sissinghurst Castle Garden or go up to Kent

$ updated from: South East England.htxt Sun 24 May 2026 15:57:34 trvl2 — Copyright © 2026 Vero and Thomas Lauer unless otherwise stated | All rights reserved $