Edenbridge - Hever Castle and Gardens

A reminder of a past age of chivalry is Hever Castle, situated to the west of Chiddingstone, which dates from the 13th-15th century, but was rebuilt in 1810 in Gothic style. This moated sandstone castle was where Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, lived as a young girl. She was beheaded at the Tower of London, both because of her adultery, but also merely because she failed to give the king an heir to the throne. There are very few, if any, reminders of this chapter of history at Hever. In 1903 the dilapidated estate was bought by the American William Waldorf Astor and completely restored for him by Frank L. Pearson in the style of the old masters. At the back of the castle, a Tudor village was recreated, and the park was given an Italian look with elaborate Renaissance sculptures. The hedges, clipped to form the shapes of chess figures, are also worth seeing. The grave of Anne Boleyn's father, Sir Thomas Boleyn (d. 1538), is to be found in the Church of St Peter.

The garden also includes as 35-acre lake and fine topiary, including a maze.