New Years Day at Hever Castle

It started out as a country drive and ended up as a family outing at Hever Castle. On our drive we found some amazing old churches all of which have very old graveyards attached. This area is camera fodder and we ate it up! I cannot even begin to describe how beautiful it is here, even in the heart of winter.

Hever Castle is the castle where Anne Boleyn grew up until going abroad to France. Anne Boleyn was married to King Henry VIII and was his second wife, but first to be beheaded (at the Tower of London.....with a sword instead of an axe). We did the audio tour because we are a bit of History nuts and wanted all the dish :) When Anne was beheaded on grounds of treason and adultery and incest the family was ruined. Side note: Anne's brother was also beheaded as he was her accused incestuous lover and her sister Mary was Mistress to the king before Anne married him. Also, Anne and the king knew each other for 7 years prior to marrying but she was never a mistress to him prior to marriage. Many believe that this is what made the King pursue her. Curiosity. Henry was obsessed with producing a male heir which is what led him to jump around from wife to wife. As it turns out the great Queen Elizabeth I was Henry VIII's greatest ruling progeny.

Henry VIII would just drop into to Hever and huge arrangements would have to be made to accommodate him and the sometimes 100 guests he would bring with him. Anne's mother would "freak out" at times like these, but found it to be worth it to have a daughter married to the king. The king also had his own door lock that he would take with him and have installed and removed wherever he stayed. Anne was not a princess, but she came from the most influential family in England at the time. Anne was not said to be beautiful, but she had an attractive way about her that led her to become the centerpiece of the party and a captivating character.

Graveyard outside of Hever.

You can buy seasons passes to Hever Castle and enjoy the many seasonal festivities that take place at the castle. In July they have jousting tournaments. I am thinking that we will need to get passes. Hever is really near our house and is one of a few castles in Kent.