Christmas at Hever Castle: A Guided Tour of Anne Boleyn's Childhood Home

[@TheMuseumGuide]

The first 1,000 people to click the link will get a full year of Premium membership to Craftsy for only $1.49: go.craftsy.com/themuseumguide/

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Ohhhhh! It seems to have its origins as a slave song, so I was so confused!

[@janebaker966]

I must speak up for Anne of Cleeves. The lucky wife. After all the stress of divorce etc had died down and Amne was independent,King Henry came to rely on her calm presence in his court. He could talk to her about his emtional torments that it wasnt safe to anyone else. Her calm balanced character made her soothing to confused,driven Henry who i feel felt life had got out of control,and he liked control! Loved the tour!

[@baylorsailor]

She would've made him a good wife if he had given her the chance. I bet she liked her independent situation though, considering what happened to his other wives.

[@MyWithnail]

She possibly fulfilled the role of sister/mother/friend which he wouldn't have had at this age.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I agree. He liked having her around.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you Jane!

[@Nigelsmom2136]

She was also very kind to Henry's 3 children.

[@mommybear2]

When you said, "Anne of Cleves needs her own video," I heard, "Anne needs her own series" and I immediately started thinking of her having a sitcom, which is ridiculous! Anyway, I gave myself a right good chuckle there. Great video. Thanks!

[@janebaker966]

Well written a series on Anne,the winner,wouldbe a huge hit! She wasn't ugly,he was old and fat and no Viagra was available then.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

The original Odd Couple.

[@mommybear2]

@@TheMuseumGuide Most assuredly.

[@selecttravelvacations7472]

A Tudor sit-com that will still be macabre…but of course.

[@Sword_and_Crown]

That’s a glorious idea! Would absolutely love to see that! ❤

[@fayewinter5488]

On the viewing of this videio , and my deep love of history and naturally the Tudors..... we have booked to stay at Hever Castle. Looking forward to this after Christmas

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I’m so, so thrilled to hear that!!! Tell them my video influenced you. ;)

[@jenniferryersejones9876]

That was fascinating! Never had quite a grasp on the Twelve Days of Christmas, so thank you. Happy Christmas to you and yours, Jessica! (And, of course, yes to a spring or summer tour of Hever)

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Happy holidays!

[@m.p.6039]

OMG Anne Boleyn Teddy bear was not something I was expecting lol.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@m.p.6039 🤣

[@slytheringingerwitch]

I wonder if the head is detachable...

[@mariemcbride3918]

Hi just found you , adore history and and historic sites late grandparents and auntie and uncle lived at hastings and they took me to hever many years ago when i came down from Yorkshire to stay with them, ive lived at haworth west yorkshire all my life, which is full of history as well , Home to the bronte sisters who wrote wuthering heights and jane ayre their home is now a museum , its said anne boleyns ghost is seen at Christmas time walking over the draw bride in to the castle. ❤❤

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Very cool! I’d love to visit.

[@buntyjoy1800]

Yeah that Xmas tree is there to show all the things you can buy in their gift shop😊

[@TheMuseumGuide]

😂😂😂

[@janebaker966]

It's fun. No one has to buy. It all keeps the place going.

[@craftyhobbit7623]

Christmas seems to be a lot more interesting in Tudor times than it does now.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

So many fun theme days!

[@Emma_bliss]

Can’t wait!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I’m excited for this one, too! It was a lot of fun to make.

[@jennifereiteljorge5575]

Yes! A spring/summer tour is a great idea. Thanks again!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You are so welcome!

[@janebaker966]

The gardens! Astor didn't need Garden Gnomes. He had real ancient Roman statues.

[@TheRadjuli]

yes please another tour! what a fascinating place😊

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You got it!

[@Fionasichanie]

Fantastic presentation! Hever Castle is so beautiful & is my favorite❤

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MEmoments19]

Thanks for this. So informative and interesting. 🎄🌟

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@svetlanapascolini-craig7523]

Thanks

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you!!!

[@kathrynjordan8782]

I had seen a video from Lucy Worsley about the 12 Days of Christmas during the Tudor times. That was so interesting. This was just as interesting. I do believe that Anne of Cleves needs her own video. She was pretty lucky and pretty canny for being smart enough to agree to annul her marriage to Henry VIII. He called her his "Beloved Sister". I think it added to a calm presence in his court. This is one tour I would want to take. Happy Christmas to you and yours!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@kathrynjordan8782 merry Christmas!

[@wendyreed9682]

Beautiful! Really interesting. Many years ago I lived quite near Hever Castle and visited it on several occasions. It has always remained my favourite castle. I would love to see it in the summer.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@louisedenson5512]

Thank you for this tour and all the information, very lovely. Love learning of the traditions of England. Love anything Anne Boleyn, enjoyed it very much. Somehow her sister, Mary, shows in my ancestry. Please do another tour in the spring or summer. Merry Christmas 🌲

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@louisedenson5512 you’re very welcome! Merry Christmas to you as well.

[@penniecormier8770]

This was fun! Yes a spring or summer tour of this castle including the Asters would be great!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@penniecormier8770 thank you for watching!

[@alixa1258]

What a throughly lovely video, thank you 👏👏🥰

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@alixa1258 you’re very welcome!

[@AmyElliott-yc3xu]

Yes, More of Heaver Castle 🏰!! Thank you! Love your videos 😊

[@TheMuseumGuide]

More to come!

[@heatherbowlan1961]

Thank you 🙏 😊🇨🇦❤️

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@heatherbowlan1961 you’re very welcome!

[@annabodroghkozy1498]

This was great! Thank you:)

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You're so welcome!

[@angiekroll1015]

Loved this! I would love to see this in the summer. Mary Boleyn is my ancestor (heck, probably Henry, too!), and I would love to learn more about Hever Castle & how the Astors adapted it.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Very cool!

[@kathrynjordan8782]

I loved this as well. Anne Boleyn is my ancestor as well. Henry is my 14th Great Grand Uncle. I would love to learn more about Hever Castle. It would be fun to take a tour of Hever Castle either in the summer or at Christmas just to see the decorations set out at that time.

[@angiekroll1015]

@ Hi, Cousin! 😘

[@kathrynjordan8782]

@@angiekroll1015 Hi! I hope you have a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year

[@angiekroll1015]

@@kathrynjordan8782 You too!

[@maggiewoodward5858]

Merry Christmas 🤶 🎄 ❤️

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Merry Christmas to you as well!

[@jaccaj1626]

Finally. I know what Boxing day is!🤭 I would love to have a second look and learn more about this place.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Nothing to do with bare knuckle fighting after all.

[@terraterrestrial5709]

Great Tour, very interesting.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@terraterrestrial5709 thank you!

[@baylorsailor]

I hope to visit Hever in the future. It's on my bucket list!

[@KimTimmins-i8r]

Mine too. Very expensive to spend a night.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You can get good deals! As low as £200

[@pamelalollathin1627]

Please do another Hever Castle video! I'm low key obsessed with Anne of Cleves now. Great video (as usual)

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you!

[@michaelwhite8031]

Thanks, very enjoyable 😊

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@michaelwhite8031 you’re very welcome!

[@SlayAllDay-m1i]

Thanks Jessica! Am doing the Tudors at school so this is great for information without having to go there, (I am terrified of fake items, like fake food or mannequins), and I want to learn as much as I can about them.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@SlayAllDay-m1i there’s a lot of fake food about! Glad to help. ❤️

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

Terrified of fake food??

[@Jocelyne1307]

Joyeux Noel !!😘

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@Jocelyne1307 Merci! Et vous!

[@ABeautfulMess]

Wonderful

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ronhuhn7562]

Thank you again and best to you and yours...

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@ronhuhn7562 you’re so welcome!

[@dmbalsam]

Very interesting!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Glad you think so! Thank you.

[@K3LLYMHENRY]

Fantastic video! I would love to see a summer tour of Hever Castle. Patreon member here. Become a member. Jessica’s content is quality. Well researched, whimsical and worth it!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@K3LLYMHENRY thanks so much, Kelly!

[@lovelyskull3483]

Thank you.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You're welcome!

[@EdEditz]

This was the 'Flog It' venue' on BBC-2 yesterday. Beautiful castle.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Oh great! I must watch.

[@janebaker966]

Teddy Bear Anne Boleyn!!🐻😀

[@TheMuseumGuide]

So cute!

[@sandrawoodall6545]

I’m a bit confused , I thought it was Prince Albert who bought the first Christmas tree to England from Germany.so we’re trees just put in hever castle just for show now?. Thanks for the interesting video.😊

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I explain that a bit later in the video!

[@corrinenolan344]

Yule logs were huge and originally would have kept going. Some say they would have been so long, theyd barly for into a mead hall. Obviously no one would expect a small log to bun for yule. Days of christmas were initially yule days. So they didn't originate first when you said. They would have been prechristian and we, after they named they the 12 days of christmas, maybe they'd have stated the years you mentioned. Way older though.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Yes, I said they originated in Scandinavia with the Norse celebration of Yule. :)

[@michaelwilliams3232]

A Tudor christmas tree!!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Not exactly! I explain

[@annfahy2589]

More please❤

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Coming soon!

[@jeannelynskey6946]

I can hear Anne of Cleves singing "Oh, them golden slippers..."

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I’m not sure I see the connection!

[@jeannelynskey6946]

@TheMuseumGuide That's a song the mummers play in Philadelphia

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Ohhhhh! It seems to have its origins as a slave song, so I was so confused!

[@jeannelynskey6946]

@@TheMuseumGuide I'm not sure how it wound up as the mummers' theme song! The Philadelphia parade is over 100 years old.

[@shonamcwilliam2842]

It amazes me how many Americans like or love anything Tudor. I know why the Tudors interest me but im brittish. Its my history but Americans? Love the video anyway. Thanks

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@shonamcwilliam2842 I’m not American.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

But for many Americans, it’s just as much their ancestry as yours.

[@linpollitt8950]

​@@TheMuseumGuide I believe your accent is Canadian? Many Brits find it hard to spot the difference.

[@linpollitt8950]

British but spelling it brittish?

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@ I am indeed Canadian. :)

[@cjsolent719]

Wassailing was a celebration to bless the orchards and fruit trees and ward off bad luck to ensure good crops the following year. Locals would tour the orchards and celebrate loudly, drinking cider and blessing the trees. A delightfully pagan celebration.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@cjsolent719 yes! I went wassailing last year.

[@cjsolent719]

@@TheMuseumGuidehave a look at the mari lwyd for more old time shenanigans! :)

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@cjsolent719 I have a video about the Mari Lwyd and hooden horses. :) Eerie UK Christmas Traditions - Folk Customs from the Mari Lwyd to the Straw Boys kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmTVp5igmJaDqtE

[@dee4174]

My tree goes up Chrismas eve and down 12th night.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

A 12 Days of Christmas purist!

[@patriciamorgan6545]

Just discovered your channel and thoroughly enjoyed! Well done! I've been binging all things Henry VIII again recently since watching Wolf Hall (first series, here in the States on PBS), so this is very timely indeed. The tapestry you featured reminds me of the one here in New York at The Cloisters, which is a replica of a medieval monastery, a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and which specializes in European medieval art. I think a little correction, though: From what I've recently come to understand, sugarplums did not actually contain what we today would call plums, nor did plum pudding contain plums. Rather, "plum" in the period referred to any dried fruit, like raisins, sultanas, and the like. If you're interested, Max Miller (Tasting History KZbin channel) just last week went through the laborious process of making sugarplums (which may have contained nuts or seeds, as well as various dried fruits). It's no wonder they were usually enjoyed around the holidays. Very labor-intensive.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I’d love to see that tapestry! The plum pudding and sugar plums on the Hever table both did contain plums, but I’m sure other dried fruits were used!

[@patriciamorgan6545]

@TheMuseumGuide I'm sure it must be on The Cloisters' website. That tapestry is the premier item in their collection, and, as such, appears on many offerings in their gift shop as well. Almost as many as Anne Boleyn's image at Hever.😄

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

To think, most ppl in England never tasted a sugarplum in their entire lives Just the very rich 1% had any kind of luxuries. The rest had gruel, filth and cold. 365 days every.single.year.of.their.lives. We can’t understand the poverty of common folk for thousands of years.

[@Blade_Daddy]

More Hever, please!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Absolutely!

[@angietunstall2555]

Great tour, Jessica! Some years ago, I went to see a jousting tournament at Hever. It was a gloriously warm summer's day. You should point out how low the ceilings were and the rooms, too. These were down to how small people were before and in Tudor times. With other visitors in a room, most of it roped off, it was quite claustrophobic! "The Boar's head in hand bear I Bedecked with bay and rosemary ..." (check out The Boar's Head Carol 2009 remaster by Steeleye Span) AND All Around My Hat, again by them. The group seemed to like singing songs from centuries ago. PS: Isn't there a letter in a frame, on a wall in the castle, written by Ann Boleyn, begging Henry VIII for her life? Wishing you a very merry Christmas, Jessica. Looking forward to more of your fabulously informative videos in 2025 😊😊

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Merry merry Christmas!

[@iisms1999]

20:59 talking about the house Henry didn’t sleep in but visited Anne in, did I hear you say after that, that he owned Penshurst Palace that was ‘just 300 miles to the north’? Hopefully you meant three miles instead 😄😭, because otherwise even by today’s standards in England/UK 300 miles is a long journey, I couldn’t imagine the palace being a quick carriage journey home after visiting her 😭:) I love your videos by the way, I’m glad I stumbled upon your channel a while ago and have been able to tour so many places from the comfort of my bed at night! 😁

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I swore I said a few miles! If I said 300 then I’m a dodo. 🤦🏻‍♀️ thank you!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Ahhhh, I went and listened! It’s an editing mistake. I actually say “three and a miles” because I think I cut out the word “half.” Phew! I didn’t think i was *that* sleep deprived!

[@garycarpenter6433]

I was hoping you'd do a Victorian age Christmas 🌲 this should be good

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@garycarpenter6433 you’ll like my Dickens Museum Christmas video! Oh, and I took your suggestion- I’m going to go to Notre Dame in January. :)

[@janwilliams1781]

Elizabeth I was fond of Anne of Cleaves, but I wonder her thoughts on Anne living in her mother’s home.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I hope it was comforting and not upsetting. 😞

[@skepticalmaiden]

Aren’t Sugar plums are plum less? The nut and sugar is accurate though as far as I know.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I think they traditionally had plums in!

[@cjsolent719]

Yes this is correct. Closest thing that persists in modern times is probably sugared almonds.

[@AxelZiegler-z7o]

Dear Jane! We enjoyed the video. Thank you so much. Could you tell me how to cancel the AI German translation. It was horrible!😂

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I think you can turn the subtitles off!

[@susanbrand7503]

Anne of Cleaves was one of the lucky one's..do the Astors own hever castle today?

[@TheMuseumGuide]

They do not! It’s owned by a business now.

[@Di...747]

How much of the display is original to the house?

[@TheMuseumGuide]

The Tudor rooms are original!

[@gic8849]

weren't most of these old castles originally painted white outside? they always look so spooky, but i bet they looked like pure magic back then

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Oh, I didn’t realise that! So cool.

[@JaneEasterbrook-bn3ux]

Mary Boleyn's daughter was called Catherine, not Elizabeth.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@JaneEasterbrook-bn3ux oh damn, stupid mistake on my part! I wish I could edit.

[@debbiekern2841]

Christmas trees in the Tudor period?

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I cover this about 2/3 through the video!

[@MsSphinx91]

Okay, I'm honestly curious as to why tea towels have become a popular item in gift shops these days. I can't think of anyone who would want one, and I don't find them appealing even though I drink tea regularly. Wondering if there's a reason behind the seemingly recent trend. Or maybe I've only just noticed?

[@TheMuseumGuide]

They look nice in the kitchen, I suppose!

[@washguy9577]

We need to go back to the no work for 12 days.

[@Sapphireice8]

I do find it frustrating that the reformation gets thrown in as being Annes push.. Worsley was also part of this.. however the public were pushing this.. the public were not happy to continue having to give so much money to Italy.. and that they couldnt understand anything said as at this time all Catholic praise was entirely in Latin, the common people did not have a 2nd language. Martin Lurther highlighted these issued in the 39 theses. This gave Henry more concern losing his people's adoration and that he as a devout religious man he felt the weight of the these on his shoulders.. it took longer than Anne saying you should do this.. at the time she was a meer fancy.. she encouraged as did Wolsey.. however both of them disagreeing is truly how the end of Anne started.. much to boths detriment.. had they of worked through their differences things would have ended very differently. The end of Anne was simplistic the reformation of the Church of England took more than Annes say so.. and its important to distinguish this. Fault is not Annes.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I don’t think it’s Anne’s nor do I think I made it seem that way? I normally mention that there was a number of complex reasons. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear!

[@joiedevivre2005]

Thank you so much for sharing your holiday tour of the Boleyn's home. Hever Castle is on my "bucket list" to visit one day. I am an American descendant of Mary Boleyn, through her grand-daughter Anne Knollys West, Baroness De La Warr..

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@joiedevivre2005 oh, that’s fascinating! It’s well worth a visit.

[@Dagrdottir]

The winters would have been severe I think because the tudors are always seen in heavy clothing in their paintings even inside.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Even a mild winter is miserable in an unheated building! This was also during a “mini ice age” that lasted a few centuries.

[@hmminteresting22]

The family name was originally BULLEN.. Anne's father 'frenchified' it to Bolyn in order to make it sound posh.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@hmminteresting22 Thanks! even his tomb says Bullen! But that was outside the scope of this video - I already had to cut so much!

[@acornimagegirl]

Have visited Hever many times Astor - titanic links

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@acornimagegirl I definitely need to explore the Astor era

[@Hailey-mx4kc]

It’s wild to me that Henry gave his divorced wife the house of his executed wife…. But knowing Henry it really shouldn’t be surprising 😂

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Classic Henry move.

[@InaNutshell-y4m]

:) 💛

[@RavenBlackCry]

There is no "Turkish St. Nicholas"!!! St Nicholas was a 4th-century Greek bishop from Myra, Myra belongs now in modern Turkey.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@RavenBlackCry yes. The saint is from Turkey. As you just said.

[@RavenBlackCry]

I did not, with all respect you say so.

[@ypernouli]

The documentary was very nice but you ought to be more accurate. Saint Nicolas was a Greek and calling him Turkish it is like saying that all the Roman Byzantine emperors were Turkish too just because an irrelevant state was created a millenia afterwards. Not historically accurate at all. ​@TheMuseumGuide

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@ thank you for watching! Wouldn’t it then be more accurate to call him Roman?

[@ypernouli]

No. He was Greek in the Roman empire, with greek ancestry and greek speaking, as most of the eastern roman empire (that's why after the emperor Heracles the official language are greek and it is a Hellenic Roman empire). At least his greek ethnicity is a consensus among the historians, though not many things are known for him due to the turbulent times. Nikolaos in greek means the victory of the people and he was known for helping the poor. Keep up the good work, I love English history and i want to watch more of your work, thank you @TheMuseumGuide

[@dianetanner1880]

I was told by 4 people that l was Anne. I use to live in TEngland, too. And l speak French as a second language. I love France. I go there yearly. My face today looks very similar to Anne.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You need the iconic necklace!

[@dianetanner1880]

lol. I have plenty of jewelry. All authentic. What's one more? Just to confide; my soul had already left my body when the sword struck. I therefore, felt nothing but sheer freedom.

[@frugalitystartsathome4889]

O-Kay….🤨

[@YeshuaKingMessiah]

U rly think ur Anne reincarnated?

[@kateywallis1238]

Well for a start the tudors didn’t have Christmas trees , they came from queen Victoria

[@TheMuseumGuide]

They actually came from Queen Charlotte. I address this about 2/3 the way through the video!

[@suepritchard9287]

The Tudor did not have Christmas trees. Christmas wasn’t as big as it is today - new year was the bigger event.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@suepritchard9287 you should watch the video. ;) all of this is addressed at length. New Year’s Day is the 8th Day of Christmas.

[@oh2sail]

Sugarplums weren’t made of plums.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

These ones likely were! There were many ways to make them, including with dried or underripe fruits. The ones on this table are plums stuffed with nuts.

[@rayskitten78]

Why does our English history guide sound American

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@rayskitten78 Hi Ray! Sometimes people move. But no one in the video is American. Hope that helps!

[@apcolleen]

History hit did a video at Heaver and they covered the lock. It belonged to Henry VIII kzbin.info/www/bejne/a164douZab-YqKM

[@TheMuseumGuide]

@@apcolleen brilliant! I’ll have to watch

[@Maguibali]

Pésima traducción😂😂😂😂

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I don’t do the translations- it’s automatic from KZbin! Sorry. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@garycarpenter6433]

I was hoping you'd do a Victorian age Christmas 🌲 this should be good

[@garycarpenter6433]

Have you ever thought 🤔 about doing a video on Scrooge London