Jane is of particular importance to Hampton Court for it was here she gave birth to Henry’s only surviving male heir who was to become Edward VI. Distantly related to both King Henry and Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour represents another…
Anne Boleyn
Anne’s date of birth is remarkably uncertain, somewhere between 1501 and 1507. Her father, Thomas Boleyn, had been a peripatetic diplomat for both Henrys VII and VIII, was a linguist, and Anne followed in his footsteps. As a young girl…
Catherine of Aragon
Was she Catherine or Katherine? Confusing in any index, but in fact she was neither. In Spain she was baptised Catalina, not until after her first marriage in England did she call herself Katherine, or variations on that, but always…
Hampton Court under King Henry VIII
Remodelling and Extension Wolsey had 400 in his staff, Henry had more than twice that many, and if he had visitors, there was no telling how many would be there to empty the larder and fill the garde-robes. The first…
Acquisition and Rebuilding of Hampton Court
One supposes Wolsey knew what was in the wind, promotions of the kind he experienced don’t happen in secret, nor overnight. He consulted with his physician (who possibly had connections with the Hospitallers) on the healthiest building location, and only…
The Problems of Catherine of Aragon
Daughters of the aristocracy were until fairly recent times considered as properties to be used by their parents to the best advantage of the family. The oldest son was the heir, traditionally the second son was the “spare” since there…