Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Hever Castle is located in the village of Hever, Kent, near Edenbridge, 30 miles (48 km) south-east of London, England. It began as a country house, built in the 13th century. From 1462 to 1539, it was the seat of the Boleyn (originally 'Bullen') family.
Anne Boleyn, the second queen consort of King Henry VIII of England, spent her early youth there after her father, Thomas Boleyn, inherited it in 1505. The castle passed to him upon the death of his father, Sir William Boleyn. It later came into the possession of King Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. The castle is now open to the public as a tourist attraction.
Henry VIII had Anne investigated for high treason in April 1536. On 2 May she was arrested and sent to the Tower of London, where she was tried before a jury of peers – which included Henry Percy, her former betrothed, and her own uncle Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk – and found guilty on 15 May, and she was beheaded on 16 July 1557. Burial on the 3 August 1557 at Westminster Abbey.
I went early to make sure I got a parking space, arrived half an hour before it opened, I was expecting a queue, but there wasn't one. There was a lot of mums with kids, a lot of these places accommodate with play area, which is a good thing, or they would be running amok taking the castle under siege!
It was a pleasant morning, but it is in the flight path of Gatwick, so about every fifteen minutes you will get an airliner at low level. Ideal for plane spotting. The Castle seems smaller than I would imagine, but looking at the dresses, everything was much smaller back then. I had a go at the maze, first, I went into the exit end and found the middle with in five seconds, I asked a woman there are she pointed out the entrance which was at the side of the maze, it wasn't my fault there should have been a EXIT sign. It is quite narrow and is made from yew, which makes it scratchy, especially if you have your shoulders exposed.
As I was going through the maze I always hear someone say "keep going left" or "right" only, I don’t know where they have got their information from, but usually the finish is in the middle so head for the middle! Who has ever gone through a maze that has only left in it? There isn't one! Anyway, after passing as few people who have no idea, not to say even which day they entered the maze! It only took me less than fifteen minutes to find the finish. There is also a water maze, didn't fancied getting wet, good for kids but need a second set of clothes.
After that I needed the ladies and to check on my makeup, I found the ladies which is usually near food, so I went to the loo and then checked and touched up on a few areas with makeup. Went to wash my hands which the tap wouldn't work, there was a sensor at the base of the tap which turned it on, ha water! Blonde moment! By that time I had put the hammer away!
After that I went into the café, checked out the food, a sandwich was about over four pounds, so I didn't bother and just had a large latte at £3.75 which is about normal. I went to sit outside and was greeted by wasps again! While drinking my coffee, I was studying the map to see what was the best route to take to see as much as I can.
I decided to go around the big lake, you can rent a boat for £15 for an hour, that sounded too sweaty. I just walked around the lake instead, the exercise and air would be good for me. About halfway around they were filming, what, I don’t know? I asked if I could go through their set because they took up the hole path, there was a guard, and he said it was OK, I have just paid a small fortune to see this place, so I think I'm entitles to go where I wish! Then he added don't take any pictures! I was thinking that goes for me too! I didn't say anything and continued on my way, didn't see anyone famous!
Not only that, but I have managed to fugue out how to connect my phone with my camera, so I can operate it from a distance, but the downside is having the camera on all the time eats the battery life and if you lose connection you have to reconnect with another password. You have limited control, zoom and timer. You just how have to be careful that some little S*** doesn't run off with your camera!
I continued around the lake back towards the castle, stopping here and there to take snaps. When I got back to the castle, it was quite busy with kids and parents, all wanting food! I think I most of taken about four hours there. I did manage to get a selfie with Anne Boleyn!, well a lovely lady dressed up as her. Furthermore, I was thinking I would mind getting dressed up, but I didn't fancy getting into that corset! I would probably faint!
For more pictures, you can visit my MediaFire album Click Here.
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