The History of Hever Castle

Hever Castle

Hever Castle, with its beautiful gardens and well- kept walls, is about 700 year old. It was originally built as a medieval house in 1270.  In the 15th and 16th centurys the castle was residence to one of the most powerful families in England, the Boleyns, who added the Tudor style architecture and furnishings within the walls. Hever Castle is located in Kent, England. 

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, her brother George and their sister Mary spent their early childhood at Hever castle. Their father, the nobleman Thomas Boleyn, inherited the castle from his father in 1505. 

Anne of  Cleves 

Anne Boleyn was executed in 1536, along with her brother George, for incest and adultery and, worst of all, high treason. The court put shame on Thomas Boleyn, and he lived for two more unhappy years until his death in 1538. The castle was then given to the crown. It later formed part of the settlement of  Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, when they divorced in 1540. Anne of Cleves lived in the castle with the honourable title: "The King's Beloved Sister" until her death in 1557.

After the death of Anne of Cleves, the castle  was bought by  Sir Edward Waldegrave. The castle stayed in his family for 160 years. After which it was continually bought and  sold until 1749 when it became  the property of Sir Timothy Waldo. Sadly by the 19th century Hever Castle was in a dreadful and rather sorry state and would probably have become a ruin, if it had not been for William Waldorf Astor who bought it in 1903. 

William Waldorf Astor 

William Waldorf Astor was a rich American-born attorney,  politician, businessman and newspaper publisher.  In 1891 he moved with his family to England, and became a British citizen in 1899. He became the first Viscount of Hever in 1917, after which Astor began  renovating the castle. He did this by extending the property and creating a village style collection of buildings to the rear. He added many new rooms such as accommodation for guests and servants' quarters.  This was done without damaging or changing the Tudor and Medieval aspects of the castle.

Hever Castle

The Astor family owned Hever Castle for about 80 years until 1983 when it was sold to Broadland Properties Limited who still own and look after it.  

If you would like to find out more about Hever Castle please visit the Hever Castle website.

Sources:  

~The Anne Boleyn Files: The History of  Hever Castle

~Wikipedia: William Waldorf Astor 

~Hever  Castle: History

~Wikipedia: Hever Castle