HEVER CASTLE

Decoration of the Great Chamber and Parlour in the Boleyn Apartment in Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne Boleyn. The re-interpretation of the apartment was conducted by Hever Castle's researchers and curators, with historical advice from Dr David Starkey.

Our brief was to create an impression of how the decoration may have originally looked as suggested by historical sources. The Parlour features a painted cloth wrapping around the walls inspired by the damask in a portrait by Hans Holbein (1582) of Thomas Cromwell, chief minister to Henry VIII. The Great Chamber features a frieze inspired by one found in Calverley Old Hall. Heraldic emblems were used to represent prestigious persons. The frieze includes the Tudor rose of Henry VIII, the Butler falcon of Anne Boleyn, and the pomegranate of Catherine of Aragon, Queen when Anne lived here. The edging border is inspired by that on the 1511 Westminster Tournament Roll. 

The rooms are structurally unaltered since the Boleyn family lived at Hever Castle, and their refurbishment has brought to life how they may have looked and been used.