Editing Hever Castle (section)

==History==
There have been three main periods in the construction of this historic castle. The castle's oldest part dates to 1270 and consisted of the gatehouse and a walled [[Motte-and-bailey|bailey]]. It was then owned by [[James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/visit/hever-castle/owners/fiennes/|title=Fiennes Family - Fiennes Family Owners of Hever Castle|website=Hever Castle}}</ref> The second period was when the castle, then in need of repair, was converted into a [[Manor house|manor]] in 1462 by [[Geoffrey Boleyn]], younger brother of [[Thomas Boleyn (priest)|Thomas Boleyn]], Master of [[Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge|Gonville Hall, Cambridge]]. He added a Tudor dwelling within the walls. The third period of repair and renovation was in the 20th century, when it was acquired by [[William Waldorf Astor]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Castle|url=http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/Castle.aspx|work=Hever Castle and Gardens|access-date=15 May 2011|archive-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922004931/http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/Castle.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
 
Geoffrey Boleyn's grandson, [[Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire|Thomas Boleyn]], inherited the castle in 1505. He lived there with his wife [[Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire|Lady Elizabeth Howard]] and their children [[George Boleyn|George]], [[Mary Boleyn|Mary]] and [[Anne Boleyn|Anne]] (the future wife of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]]). It is not known if Anne was born at Hever (the year of her birth is not certain), but she lived there until she was sent to the [[Netherlands]] in 1513 to receive an education at the court of the [[Archduchess Margaret of Austria|Archduchess Margaret]]. Henry VIII often used the nearby [[Bolebroke Castle]] to conduct his courtship with Anne.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/anne-boleyn-places/castles/bolebroke-castle-hartfield-east-sussex/ |title=The Tudor Trail |access-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129174007/http://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/anne-boleyn-places/castles/bolebroke-castle-hartfield-east-sussex/ |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}</ref>

The property came into the possession of Henry VIII after the death of Anne's father, [[Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire|Thomas Boleyn]], in 1539. He bestowed it upon [[Anne of Cleves]] in 1540 as part of the settlement following the annulment of their marriage. Hever Castle still has one of Henry VIII's private locks, taken with him on his various visits to noblemen's houses and fitted to every door for his security.<ref>Jenkins, Simon (2003). ''Discover Britain's historic houses. The Southeast.'' Pub. Reader's Digest. {{ISBN|0-276-44068-4}}. P. 45.</ref>

[[File:Cox-Jnr-98093 - Hever Castle from the Moat - circa 1850.jpg|thumb|upright|''Hever Castle from the Moat'', circa 1850, by [[David Cox Jr.]] ]]

The property subsequently passed through various owners, including the [[Waldegrave family]] from 1557 to 1715, the [[Sir William Humfreys, 1st Baronet|Humfreys]] family to 1749 and the [[Meade-Waldo]] family from 1749 to 1903. During this latter period of ownership, the castle fell into a poor state of repair, during which time it was leased to various private tenants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/visit/hever-castle/owners/meade-waldo/|title=Meade Waldo|publisher=Hever Castle|access-date=3 June 2018}}</ref>

In 1903, it was acquired and restored by the American millionaire [[William Waldorf Astor]], who used it as a family residence.<ref>John Turner, ‘Astor, William Waldorf, first Viscount Astor (1848–1919)’, rev. [[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]], Oxford University Press, 2004;</ref> He completed a restoration, added the Tudor village (also known as the Astor Wing)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/kent/Hever_Castle.htm |title=Hever Castle History, tourist information, and nearby accommodation |website=Britain Express |access-date=June 5, 2021 |quote=}}</ref> and also added the Italian Garden to display his collection of statuary and ornaments.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brown |first=Jane |date=1999 |title=The English Garden Through the 20th Century |location=England |publisher=Garden Art Press |isbn=1870673298 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Dimas |first1=Stephanie |last2=Reinsberg |first2= Carola |last3=von Hesberg |first3=Henner |author-link3=Henner von Hesberg | title=Die Antikensammlungen von Hever Castle, Cliveden, Bignor Park und Knole |series=Monumenta artis romanae | volume=38 |location=Wiesbaden |publisher=Reichert |year=2013| isbn=978-3-89500-714-9}}</ref>

The castle has been Grade I listed since 10 September 1954; that was after the addition of the Tudor village, "a picturesque cluster of guest cottages".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1273465?section=official-list-entry |title=Hever Castle |website=Historic England |access-date=5 September 2022 |quote=List Entry Number: 1273465}}</ref>

In 1983, the Astor family sold the castle to John Guthrie (1906-1992), chairman of the family-run business, Broadland Properties Limited.

The castle was used as the location for [[music video|music videos]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWk6L9T5-es ''When A Knight Won His Spurs''] (soloist: Edward Day). LiberaUSA, 2006 (YouTube).</ref> The [[Loggia]] on the lake was used as the location for a peace conference in the comedy-drama ''[[The Great (2020 TV series)|The Great]]''. Other productions that have filmed on the property include ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'' and ''[[Inkheart (film)|Inkheart]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://londonist.com/london/beyond-london/hever-castle-gardens-kent-visit-review-photos |title=History, Topiary, Beauty: Why You Should Visit Hever Castle |publisher=Londonist |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref>