The Boleyns and Wickham Court

Wickham Court today is an independent co-educational day school located in West Wickham, Kent.

My interest in the building arose after reading a statement on the school’s website that states that the building is the ancestral home of the Heydon and Boleyn families and claims to have been the backdrop for King Henry VIII’s proposal to Anne Boleyn.

This immediately sparked my interest and led me to do a little investigating to uncover whether this was a spurious claim or whether there was in fact some truth to it.

What I discovered is that Henry Heydon, of Baconsthorpe in Norfolk, purchased the property in 1467 and completely rebuilt the old manor house and the adjoining church.

These were of course, troubled times and the buildings semi-fortified appearance reflects this.

Cecily Neville

Although the Heydons had always been Lancastrian supporters, Henry was a Yorkist and soon received a knighthood from Edward IV. He was also steward or controller of the household to Cecily Neville, Duchess of York (mother of Edward IV and Richard III).

He later married Anne Bullen, daughter of Sir Geoffrey Bullen, whose famous great niece by the same name would later become queen of England.

The National Monuments Records confirm that Anne Boleyn never lived at Wickham Court but it is possible that she visited her relatives at the manor.

As for the rumour that Henry VIII proposed to Anne Boleyn at Wickham Court, I have found no evidence to support this claim. In saying that, it is possible that Henry and Anne visited the manor during their courtship especially considering the home’s proximity to Hever Castle and the fact that it remained in the hands of the Heydon and Boleyn families until 1579, although again, this is mere speculation.

The Monuments Record also states that a piece of stained glass in the west window of the ‘Keep’ ‘showing the coats of arms of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and her signet, must date from the three years that she was Queen.’

I have emailed the school and am awaiting more information. I would love to hear from anyone that has seen the stained glass with Anne Boleyn’s coat of arms.

Click here for a detailed description of the house, the interior of the original manor house and the collection of heraldic stained glass housed in the banqueting house and keep.

Perhaps not an official ‘Anne Boleyn location’ but its association with the Boleyns makes it an important stop On the Tudor Trail none the less!

References
National Monuments Record Wickham Court
Wickham Court
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Comments

  1. Richard M says:

    Interesting. Do you know anything about the Red Lodge in West Wickham?

  2. Tim Timpson says:

    Dear Sir
    I was brought up in the small village of Wickhambreaux, east of Canterbury. Originally called Wickham, the suffix was added later in 1285 when William de Breuse or Braose owned the manor.
    Whilst perusing ‘The Village Atlas of London,The changing face of Greater London 1822-1903’ (published by The Village Press of Edmonton, London) I noticed Wickham Breaux in West Wickham.
    The book shows area maps of London 1819, 1876 and 1904. On the 1876 and 1904 maps Wickham Court is marked as ‘Wickham Court’. However, on the 1819 map ‘Wickham Court’ is shown as ‘Wickham Breaux’.
    I was just wondering if you know the history behind this and whether there is any connection between Wickham (Breaux) Court 1819 and Wickhamreaux in East Kent.
    There is a Wickham Court, the most impressive building on Wickhambreaux Green and a Wickham Court Lane leading into Wickhambreaux.
    If you require a copy of the map, please email your address and I will send you a copy.
    As the name Wickham-breaux is so unusual one would think there is some connection, even though they are located at either end of the county of Kent.
    Any thoughts you have on this connection, if any, would be appreciated.
    Kind regards
    Tim Timpson

  3. I went to school there when St. John rigby still owned it , it was the reception and nurses and headmasters office , my first year there they did a retreat day and showed us around the whole place even the dungeons. I don’t remember completely what they told us but there are doors that look like walls and they said something like there are 40 rooms but only 39 have been found . Could have been a way to keep us busy because we were all searching the walls for ages. The buildings beautiful and the gardens even nicer

  4. For a complete photographic “walkround” of Wickham Court, please see my website. http://www.kentishphotography.co.uk/crtwkcm/crtwkcm.html. It also has a photo or two of the coats of arms in the stained glass window.

  5. I am studying my family history and in 1891 I have a relation working at Court Stables Wickham Court west wickham. On the 1891 census there dose not appear any head of the place.. It has just lodgers listed..

    Would the stables be just buildings were workers to the main house lived?

  6. I lived in Wickham Court for a few months in the 1970s when Schiller College bought it. I had a room in the Tudor part of the building.

    I recall the stained glass window made to commemorate Henry and Anne’s wedding. We were told to be very careful with it. When we had a dance party, we placed the dj table so it would block the window from possible harm. (I just recalled having to get the massive 2-3 lb key to open the front door for that same dj to bring his equipment in!)

    The building also had a spectacular carved wood fireplace of some historical interest. I recall seeing some folks from a historical society coming around to see it.

  7. Diane Murray says:

    My son and daughter went to St John Rigby in the 80s and 90s. The sixth form was housed in Wickham court. I remember the Dep. Head showing my husband and I the “H and A” engraved over the front door. Saying that it had been overlooked when Henry ordered them removed from palaces when Anne was beheaded. I saw it. So not sure why it would be there if they did not go there. Also Dep Head explained that the floors had original branches and pine branches under the boards. The original Tudor underfloor heating system so no pipes could be laid there. A beautiful building.