Friday 20 September 2019

A lovely couple of days visiting Hever Castle, Penshurst and Penshurst Place


This week I spent a couple of days staying at the Leicester Arms Hotel in Penshurst, in order to visit Hever Castle (childhood home of Anne Boleyn, later given to Anne of Cleves) and Penshurst Place (where Henry VIII used to stay when he was visiting Mary Boleyn, and possibly Anne, later). I've wanted to visit Hever Castle for years, and both places were so worth the long journey.  The surrounding countryside is so beautiful, and the weather was perfect.


I went with my sister, Julia, and writer friend Gemma Lawrence; if you haven't read her wonderful Tudor and other historical fiction, you really ought to. :)

Hever Castle



In the 'morning room'

Gemma knows more about the Tudor period than anyone I've ever met, so having her company around these places was such a treat, and made it all mean so much more—especially when she pointed out where such and such a scene in one of her books took place.

Probably the bedroom Anne and Mary slept in as children

Anne Boleyn's Book of Hours


The room in which Henry VIII would have stayed when he visited.  Not all of it dates back to this period, but the ceiling is the oldest part; I liked looking up at it and thinking, this is what he would have seen....



The Long Gallery, created in 1506 by Thomas Boleyn
.
Elizabeth Woodville

One of my favourite women of history, Margaret Beaufort


Henry before he ate all the pies

 
Henry VII


The Rose Garden



Penshurst 




Where the term 'the dole' comes from. 😉


Penshurst Place




The Baron's Hall, that dates back to 1341.  Totally amazing, none of these rather crappy photos even begin to do it justice.


 The Minstrels Gallery ~ imagine looking down from it, and seeing Anne dancing with Henry....







Anne Boleyn finally deigned to make an appearance :)


14 comments:

  1. Thank you, Terry, for these wonderful pictures and the blog post that makes me wish we were there again right now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes... as always, would be nice to have had one more day :)

      Delete
  2. Brings back happy memories. We visited earlier in the year, and I agree, they are well worth the long trip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you liked it, Linda! Would love to go again :)

      Delete
  3. Absolutely LOVE seeing these photos! Looks like a wonderful visit. Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you, Lisette! Pretty damn amazing places.... just frustrating because I wanted to actually look back in time, too....!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great photos. Hever Castle has always been a place I've wanted to visit, will have to add Penshurst and Penshurst Place too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, you must! And Penshurst is only about 10 miles away - the two of them made for a good day, though v tiring!

      Delete
  6. Such a lovely place. It's seeing your photos and pictures of these wonderful historic houses that make me miss England. There's so much history. Of course there is here as well, but it's on a much smaller scale. I used to love visiting the stately homes of great historical figures when I was a child...sigh. I'd so like to do that again. Just beautiful, Terry. And great that Gemma could join you and Julia there too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, there's something about it, isn't there? Thinking, that person actually stood here and saw this....

      It was more a case of Julia came along with Gemma and me, to be truthful - we'd talked about doing this one day, for some time, and then I asked Julia if she would like to come too - since she has been Gemma's proofreader for a while now!

      Delete
  7. I've long wanted to visit Hever. I did get there once, but so late in the day I only saw the outside. Must go back and do it properly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should, it's so worth it - and do see Penshurst while you're there!

      Delete
  8. I am very fond of Penshurst Place which I visited frequently with my History class but I have still not been to Hever Castle! one day..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you get there, and thanks for taking a look, Liz xx

      Delete