Hever Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Hevre

In the civil parish of Hever.
In the historic county of Kent (Modern Authority of Kent, 1974 county of Kent).

Supposed licenses to crenellate dated 1271 (called 'mythical' by Emery, but in the rolls), 1340 (Which I can't identify) and 1383 (to John Cobham and well recorded in the rolls); Emery dates the gateway and walls to this licence of 1383. Additions to the castle were made in 1462, circa 1500 and 1584. A restoration was carried out in the early C19. More additions were made in 1903-07. It has the oldest working original portcullis in England. Interior much restored in early C19. Hever Castle was the home of Anne Boleyn. It changed hands several times until purchased by Mr W.W. Astor in 1903, when J.L. and F.L. Pearson added "The Village" a picturesque cluster of guest cottages.

This site has been described as a;
Fortified Manor House.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Major remains.

A Royal licence to crenellate was granted in 1271 Jan 17.

A Royal licence to crenellate was granted in 1383 Nov 3.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ47824520

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 407172

• Web site links
  • http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/
    http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/hever%20castle.htm
    http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/hever/hever.php
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/188/hevercastle.htm
    http://www.touruk.co.uk/castles/castle_Hever.htm
    http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/easy_results.asp?index=1&main_query=hever%20castle
• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p355-7, 440
    Salter, Mike, 2000, The Castles of Kent (Malvern) p46-8
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p121
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p231
    Guy, John, 1980, Kent Castles (Meresborough Books)
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p244
    Smithers, David Waldron, 1980, Castles in Kent (Chatham)
    Oswald, A., 1933, Country Houses of Kent
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Chalkley Gould and Downham, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Kent Vol1 p430-431
    Ditchfield, 1907, in Ditchfield and Clinch, Memorials of Old Kent (London) p228-37 [slight]
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol1 p21-3
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol1 (London) p294-301
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p304-5, 403
    Hasted, Edward, 1778-99, A History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent Vol1 p394-7
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol1 p131
• Journal Articles
  • Aslet, C., 1981, ‘Hever Castle, Kent - I' Country Life Vol169 p18-21
    Kenyon, J.R., 1981 'Early Artillery Fortifications in England and Wales: a Preliminary Survey and Re-appraisal' Archaeological Journal Vol138 p209
    1977, Fort Vol4 p83
    Tipping, 1907, Country Life Vol22 p522-35, 558-66
    Leyland, 1897, Country Life Vol2 p266-8
    W.D., 1873, The Antiquary Vol3 p121-25
    1839, Gentleman's Magazine pt1 p29-33
• Guidebooks
  • Anon, n.d. [c1990], Hever Castle (Hever Castle Ltd)
    Astor, G., 1966, Hever Castle and Gardens
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Calendar of Patent Rolls (1266-72) p507
    Calendar of Patent Rolls (1381-85) p326