Finding Henry Tour

Day 1. Hever & Penshurst
A little colder than when we were here last but all the better to keep the crowds down. Hever was first visit today but we couldn’t have access to the castle itself until noon because there was a wedding on in the Hall. The bride looked lovely in a full length cream dress and pausing for the group photos outside the castle must have provided a fantastic memory album for the bride and groom.

Anne Boleyn herself was there to greet us as we entered the castle through the courtyard, complete with the famous drop pearl necklace with a gold capital B. Inside the castle there are a number of artefacts and portraits to view and there is also a large tapestry of the wedding of Henry’s sister Mary that is said to have the Boleyn sisters in the background.

The gardens are coming into bloom now with tulips and apple blossom all around the place. The gardens lead to the lake and a terrific walk. There were swans and ducks aplenty all around the lake the moat and the stream passing through the grounds.
Just a short drive away is Penshurst place, to my mind a better palace with a real Tudor soul. The gardens are also just coming to bloom with the yellow tulips in the ornamental garden in front of the house are simply glorious. The house was looking its best with the honey coloured stone almost glowing in the sunshine. The Barons hall built in 1341 is the scene for many period dramas and films as when you look around there isn’t modern looking building anywhere within sight, no phone masts or power lines either. The list of films made here is very long, but not as long as the list Dukes, Earls and barons that have lived here not to mention Royal visitors and owners.

We are staying the night in an old Tudor coaching inn in Tonbridge and just over the road is Tonbridge castle, originally built by the Normans and extended into a huge defensive structure dominating the local countryside.