Friday, February 13, 2009

Question from Nicole - Anne Boleyn's gate at Hampton Court

Does anyone know why that gate at Hampton Court is called Annes Gate is there an intresting story behind it??

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I cannot find any information on why there is a gate named after Anne Boleyn at Hampton court and when it was called that.I know that when the king married Henry's initials and that of his lady were inscribed (engraved) on the palace walls and ceilings.This was the tradition of the time.I suppose it sent out a message to all those around him who was king and who the king was married to.Perhaps this gate was named after Anne because she may have passed through it after when she married the king or passed through it when she was crowned on her way back to Hampton court.I would say it was most probable one of the two.Also personalisation was a well known thing in the Tudor era.Persomalisation was put into jewellery.The king just didn't have an engraver engrave his and his chosen wife at the time initials put on the walls but also in jewellery to.It was called lovers knots.For example onto pendants or brooches.But personalisation was big in theese times.you just have to look at Anne Boleyns neclace in her picture.Also it wasn't just fashionable to have a first initial made of your name or that of yourself and that of your loved one also the initial of your last name was a popular thing to do aswell.

Anonymous said...

Another thing Anne may have liked to leave and enter through this gate while staying at Hampton court.when she wanted to go for walks and get some fresh air.Also she owned a dog. so her dog would have needed to be taken for walks.She probably did take her dog for walks through this gate and back again.Sometimes one of her maids probably would have attended on going with walks with her dog or Anne herself.Perhaps also through this gate.

Anonymous said...

In the brochure on Hampton Court which can be purchased at the palace, there is this statement...

"On the far side of Base Court stands Anne Bolyen's Gatehouse. This name dates from the 19th century when the vault beneath the gateway was reconstructed."

Anonymous said...

Ok I can help with this one. It is a Victorian fancy (as are the entwined HA symbols in the ceiling. The only genuine ones are in the roof of the Great Hall, as they were too high to remove)..However.The rooms just above and around there (inc. what is now the shop and part of the young Henry Exhibition) were her rooms, adapted for her as she didn't want to use Catharine of Aragon's old rooms, which stand directly opposite.They definitely would not have been known by the same name until much later, because of Henry's obvious feelings about all this. It would probably be the Inner Gatehouse or likewise. I have the Thurley book so if I get chance, I will double check that but it sounds about right.

It's also in these rooms that her ghost was supposedly felt by a pyschic friend of Lady Baden Powell (former resident and founder of the Girl Guides), which has no bearing on this conversation but people sometimes like to know! :) Hope that helps. x