by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: August 13, 2010   Last Updated: March 04, 2011

Hever Castle as it exists today, is not the original castle but rather a skillful reproduction. In spite of that,  it is very easy to be swept into the romance that has been so artfully created. From the moment you cross the moat you are drawn into the past. As you enter, you begin a journey through time beginning in the early 20th century. Your tour through Hever is self-guided.

The first room you enter is the Drawing Room designed for William Waldorf Astor. The beautiful oak paneling and plasterwork ceiling create a warm men's club feeling, and you can imagine yourself being comfortable here and looking out the old, recessed glass windows and onto the lovely gardens.

The Inner Hall, where the 15th-century kitchens were housed, has a ceiling that incorporates the Tudor Rose into the design. A portrait of Henry VIII dominates the room but Anne and her sister Mary shouldn't be overlooked. Before you leave, let your eyes be drawn up to the beautiful carved-wood gallery.

The Dining Hall has a 16th-century tapestry and a fireplace bearing the coat of arms of the Bullen family. None of this is original but the recreation is believable. The Entrance Hall however, dates from the period of Anne’s father, Sir Thomas Boleyn. The old beams and studs are displayed as well as a collection of religious vestments.

You feel as if you are in a time machine here as you leave the 16th century and head for the 19th-century Library. Then you go back again as you view the date 1603 carved into the morning-room fireplace.

As lovely as the downstairs rooms are, it’s the upstairs rooms that are filled with charm. After climbing steep stone steps, you'll find yourself in Anne’s Room, traditionally believed to be her bedroom.  The portrait of her in this room has a mysterious aura, she is a woman you can imagine charming a King. She is prettier and softer than the woman in Holbein's portrait.

From Anne's bedroom, you pass through a small closet that contains a copy of her parent's tombstone from St. Peter’s Church. Very little is known about this pair who were the parents of three such extraordinary children.

You cannot help but be drawn into the drama surrounding Anne in the next room, where you read her notations in her two "books of hours." In one she writes, "The time will come" and in the other, "remember me when you do pray, that hope does lead from day to day." It's fascinating stuff.

Hever’s history doesn’t end with the Boleyns. The Waldergraves owned the castle from 1557-1715 and, as they were Catholics, added an Oratory which in 1584  they hid behind some paneling. You can view it through an opening.

The Astor Suite tells the history of the Astor family in America and England. Check out the garderobe as you leave through the 13th-century gatehouse.

Depending on the time of year you visit Hever,  you may want to spend some time discovering the lovely gardens. There is also a very good sized gift shop. Hever is a must  for anyone who loves Tudor history and in particular the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn.

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