Rochford Hall

Rochford Hall is a manor in Rochford, Essex, England. During the reign of King Henry VIII, it belonged to Thomas Boleyn, then viscount Rochford, and it was the marital home of his daughter Mary Boleyn, sister of Queen Anne Boleyn, and Mary's second husband, William Stafford, Lord Chebsey. It is now privately owned.

History

The manor was originally built in 1216, which is the date carved into an old joist, and some of the arched doorways are original. In its 16th century form Rochford Hall comprised a sprawling turreted manor with a moat and great hall.[1]

Anne Boleyn spent part of her childhood at Rochford Hall, which then belonged to her father Sir Thomas Boleyn as part of his rich inheritance from his mother Margaret Butler. Sir Thomas was created Viscount Rochford in 1525, and his title derived from his ownership of Rochford Hall. It was at Rochford where Anne allegedly held secret meetings with King Henry VIII.[2] Following the second marriage of Anne's elder sister Mary to William Stafford in 1534, Rochford Hall was given to the couple as their principal residence.

There have been many additions and alterations to the manor over the centuries. The 20-foot-high (6.1 m) stained glass replica window in the main hall consists of three coats-of-arms of previous owners including the crest of Anne Boleyn.

The manor suffered some damage after a German bombing in 1940. Rochford Hall is now privately owned.

References

  1. ^ In Anne Boleyn's Footsteps, by Catalina Stogdon, 20 March 2007 Telegraph,co.uk, retrieved on 9 May 2009.
  2. ^ Stogdon, Telegraph,co.uk, retrieved 9 May 2009