Hever and Bodiam castles

Last day in UK for a while. We packed up and cleaned up after ourselves in the flat and head off South to visit another couple of castles on our way to Folkestone where we are staying overnight.

Both GPS programs are acting very strangely today and we seem to have travelled many more miles than we needed to.

We finally got to Hever Castle, home of Anne Bolyn.

It was much more a large fortified manor house than a proper castle but bits of it were quite old.

Front of the castle

Courtyard of the castle.

Hever Castle 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 had inherited it in 1505. He had been born there in 1477, and the castle passed to him upon the death of his father, Sir William Boleyn. It later came into the possession of King Henry's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves after Anne was beheaded.

Hever Castle was a bit disppointing as it was expensive to go in but we didn't realise that most of the castle had been totally renovated in1900's by Americal millionaire William Waldorf Astor. There were some original parts however and some interesting exhibits about the history of the different history periods.

We tried out the maze. Or I should say I followed Geoff while he explored the maze. I get lost at the best of times. No way could I find my way out of a maze!

Side of the castle. Below were some amazing branch sculptures.

In the afternoon we visited Bodiam Castle which I think is the most iconic original intact castle with a moat that we have seen.

It was freezing cold and windy as we explored the castle.

It was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, with the permission of Richard II, ostensibly to defend the area against French invasion during the Hundred Years' War. Of quadrangular plan, Bodiam Castle has no keep, having its various chambers built around the outer defensive walls and inner courts. Its corners and entrance are marked by towers, and topped by crenellations. Its structure, details and situation in an artificial watery landscape indicate that display was an important aspect of the castle's design as well as defence. It was the home of the Dalyngrigge family and the centre of the manor of Bodiam.

We are staying overnight at Folkstone right on the beach. Hard to remember that it is now summer over here!

Tomorrow France!