In this month’s Wanderings we visit Hever Castle in Kent, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I.
Having grown up in post-Soviet Russia I never really had much experience with really, really old buildings – let alone really old buildings still standing, and being well looked after. After all, L’Internationale in it’s Russian incarnation goes a bit like this: “We will destroy this world of violence / Down to the foundations, and then / We will build our new world”. And destroy they did – centuries old palaces and churches blown up to make way to ugly concrete blocks of houses, former aristocratic residences abandoned and crumbling, the past erased and forgotten.
Yes, my home town of St Petersburg is a rather big exception to the rule, but it’s a young city, founded in the 18th century and was all too valuable to blow up, I guess.
But I digress. My point being that even after over 10 years in the UK, I can’t quite get enough of the really old stuff – stately homes, ancient castles, Roman ruins – and the love for the history and heritage that people living here have. So one of the favouritest days out for me is going to an old castle, and having a wander round. Bonus points when visiting with children – having various events, and somewhere to eat, which Hever Castle ticks perfectly (naturally, the closest pub is called King Henry VIII – and it’s actually very, very good).
I leave you with some snaps I did on our day out back in August last year. Enjoy!
And to finish off, here’s our pretty rubbish obligatory family holiday snap (naturally taken when the little one’s had enough of our wanderings). My forever wish is to have someone with us on the day out (or holiday) to document the actual fun we are having, and our unposed explorations. Well if I can’t have it – you can.
