Natalie Grueninger from On the Tudor Trail
On a cold winter’s morning in November 2000, I stepped through the gates of the Tower of London and was forever changed. Unknowingly, I had become another victim of the Tudors, but not of their politics or policy, rather, their ability to awaken curiousity and draw people into the tumultuous and dangerous period in history in which they lived, more than 500 years ago.
The sub-zero conditions were new to me, so accustomed to the mild Australian climate, but regardless of the bitter cold a spark ignited in me, a spark that over the years would grow and consume my thoughts in a way I could not yet have imagined. As I walked the grounds of the Tower, absorbing its history and its moods, I stopped on Tower Green to read a plaque that named seven victims that had met their terrible end in a private execution.
Among them was the name ‘Queen Anne Boleyn. Second wife of Henry VIII’.
This name seemed strangely familiar to me, like hearing about an old friend. Immediately, I yearned to discover more and to attempt to understand how and why this woman had met such a violent end. Why had a devoted husband turned on his own wife- his Queen- and ordered her execution? Had she been guilty of the crimes of which she was accused? What part had she played in her own demise and untimely death? Why did her name stand out above all others? I still find this final question particularly difficult to answer. Over the years I have come to think that perhaps the solution lies not in this lifetime, that perhaps we are not yet supposed to uncover the source of our strong affinity with a stranger from the past.
For me, this was the beginning of a long journey- I was undoubtedly caught in the Tudor web.
The next day, my visit to Hampton Court Palace only fuelled the fire within. Never in my life had I imagined such a place. Growing up in Australia had allowed me to indulge in exquisite landscapes and amazing coastlines but never had I ventured inside a palace or experienced the feeling that encompasses your very being when you realise you are walking on grounds where Kings and Queens once roamed, or wandering corridors that have overheard the secrets of great monarchs, witnessed the affairs of state being played out and heard the whispers of courtiers. I was humbled and honoured to be standing in a palace that had stood for hundreds of years- a palace that King Henry VIII had loved and held dear.
I was sure that hidden in the fabric of these ancient walls lay imprints of its past inhabitants and the events they played a part in. Only time separated us. Like flicking through a pile of old negatives, I wanted to peel away the layers of time and glimpse into the past. What did Henry look like in the flesh? What did Anne Boleyn’s voice sound like? I wondered if it was ever possible for a building, a space, to reveal its secrets, to play back events that echoed through its walls and floors and allow some among us to sense it.
For these reasons, On the Tudor Trail is dedicated to retracing the steps of an indelible queen. Like an exercise in time travel, this journey will take us through stately homes, chapels, parks and buildings- hidden treasures- that still stand today with a significant Tudor connection. It is also a space for sharing information about the Tudor monarchs and daily life in Tudor England, a place to discuss the ways in which the lives of historical figures from half a millennium ago still resonate powerfully with so many of us today. The focus will be on the reign of Henry VIII and the life of his second wife Queen Anne Boleyn, as I yearn to better understand their relationship and form a more detailed picture of the events that culminated on Tower Green, May 19th 1536.
So join me- on the Tudor Trail.
Natalie
Hi Natalie,
Great site and the links to Glen Richardson were also useful. Could you tell me if there is an easily accessible itinerary for Henry VIII’s tour to the Field of the Cloth of Gold. I’m particulaly interested in his movements through Kent and wonder how much detail ther is beyond the key sites such as Leeds Castle. Are these listed in the itinerary and can I find it.
Many thanks
Derek
Thank you Derek! Alison Weir in her book Henry VIII: King & Court states that the king and his vast entourage stayed at Warham’s palaces at Charing and Otford, then on the 22nd May at Leeds Castle before arriving in Canterbury. Henry then lodged again at Archbishop Warham’s palace. Simon Thurley’s The Royal Palaces of Tudor England is one of the best resources I have found for those interested in the palaces and houses of the Tudor reign. I am putting together a list of all the palaces and houses that Henry owned on his death as I don’t believe there is a complete list available online yet. Hope this helps!
Hi Derek,
There isn’t a great deal of information available. He also stayed at Canterbury before leaving from Dove. I am currently writing a new book on the Field of Cloth of Gold which should be out in 2013. email me if you want further info -such as I have. Glenn
Hi Derek, is that your first book? Would be interested to hear more about it. Thanks
Hello Natalie,
I have a question.
I really don’t know if I’m putting this in the good place.
My English is not good I’m from the Netherlands.
I have seen the serie The Tudors, I really loved this serie but I wanna know the real history of the Tudors.
Unfortunatly I can’t find anny books about the history of the Tudors.
Maybe you can help me in the good directions?
Do you have anny names of book and the writers?
Maybe I can buy them in the Netherlands and know more about them.
I hope that you wanna help me a little?
Best regards
Ilse van Uitert
Hello Ilse! Of course I can help you. There are many, many books about the history of the Tudors. Are you interested in a general overview of the period? Or are you interested in a particular person? A fantastic website where you can buy great books for a good price and have them delivered FREE to your door is at the Book Depository, http://www.bookdepository.com/
I have also created a list of favourite books on my site, just look on the sidebar of my homepage, it’s called ‘Tudor Bookshelf’ here you will find both fiction and non-fiction titles. Let me know exactly what you’re looking for and I can help you further.
Hey Natalie,
I am from germany, so i dont know if my english is good. I will visit London in April 11 and i am a big Tudor Fan, i will visit the hampton court palace, Tower of london etcc.. but i have a question, do you know any website or smth like this were i can find out how the relationship between anne and henry was? and u can maybe tell me if anne was in the hampton court palace?
Greats From Germany, Angela
Hello Angela!
Anne Boleyn most definitely visited Hampton Court Palace, here is a little more information: http://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/anne-boleyn-places/palaces-and-houses/hampton-court-palace/
What aspect of Anne and Henry’s relationship would you like to learn more about? I am happy to help you
Thank you for the answer. I want to know if herny loves anne ? i am sure he had, but in the end he killed her, so its confusing me.. it would be really nice if you could help me
)
Hi Natalie,
I’ve watched all the seasons of The Tudors in highschool, and I just finished re-watching the first two seasons, when I probably should have been in class, and I’ve forgotten how much I love them! I am so fascinated by paintings from this time. I so wish I could get an idea of what Henry’s wives looked like. I was curious if you had any recommendations of some books that are closest to the Tudor history…his wives and children. I’ve always been interested in Anne Boleyn. I can remember reading books about her and Elizabeth as a kid, but those where childrens books.
Hope to hear back!
Sabrina
Dear Sabrina,
Lovely to hear from you! By far the best biography of Anne Boleyn is Eric Ives’ ‘The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn.’ It does not leave my bedside table. If you’re interested in an overview of Henry’s six wives then I would recommend Alison Weirs’ ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’. I have recently added a book store to my site and there you will find my recommendations for a variety of topics related to Tudor England. You can access the store here. Let me know if I can be of any further help
Thank you so much. It’s so cool that I’m talking to an actress! I feel celebrity struck! I love the website. There’s so much great info. I was clicking different links and I found one that makes jewelry from the show, which was all beautiful! I just might have to buy some
: )
Hi Sabrina, thank you for the lovely comments about the website. I am a little confused about the ‘actress’ part. I am definitely not an actress so I am sorry if you thought the site belonged to someone else, hope you’re not too disappointed. Natalie Dormer endorses my ‘Save Anne Boleyn’s Portrait’ page on Facebook and my name is also Natalie so maybe that is where the confusion started. Thanks for dropping by!
Oh gosh, I’m such a dummy! ” /
I still love the site!
I am glad!
Congratulations for the site, it’s wonderful.
Thank you Nyele!
Hey Natalie,
Maybe you didnt see it? 
I buyed the book from Eric Yves, its really great ! 
i asked you if you know smth about the relationship between herny and anne, the love betwenn herny and anne, but you didnt reply
It would be very nice if you reply me
Greats from germany
Hello! I think you’re going to enjoy Eric Ives’ book very much! I am not sure exactly what you would like to know about Anne and Henry’s relationship but here is some information. In my opinion Anne Boleyn was Henry’s greatest love! The love letters that Henry VIII wrote Anne during their relationship show that he was madly in love with her. Henry wrote them in his own hand and this is particularly significant because Henry disliked writing letters himself and very rarely did. He normally dictated letters but when it came to his love letters to Anne, he penned them in his own hand. Unfortunately, Anne’s responses are lost and so it’s more difficult to say what Anne felt for Henry but I think that she did grow to love him. Their relationship was strengthened by the fact that they shared many interests. They were both intelligent and witty, enjoyed music, poetry, hunting and debating religious matters. They were also both interested in building and worked on a number of projects together during their relationship. The fact that Henry was so in love with Anne would explain why their relationship was also so fiery! Anne had a bad temper and was prone to jealousy. She also challenged the King on a number of occasions and so they argued frequently. If only Anne had given Henry the son he so desired, she more than likely would be the one buried beside him now instead of lying headless in the ground of St Peter Ad Vincula. Hope this helps
Thank youu
But i heard that herny said that he loved jane seymour at most..so its a little bit confusing me..Because anne was only 35 years old so she had given him a son.., if he had not killed her , why he did this? Its a difficult question, because we cant ask him..but i dont know..i would give everything to know it.. thanks for your reply and your help..and thank you if you answer me:) Sorry for my english..i know its bad but i hope u will undersatand me 
Hi Natalie,
what a terrific website. This must be so much work! I’m currently doing an online course on Henry VIII which is really interesting. Will have to add your website to my favourites. Thanks for your efforts.
Ella
Thank your for this lovely site, I cannot wait to read it more thorough. It’s fun to discover more and more people taking interest in Anne Boleyn.
Natalie, love your website! I love your recommendations for reading on the wives. I strongly recommend David Starkey’s “The Queens of Henry VIII” as required reading. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Lynn! My copy of David Starkey’s ‘Six Wives’ is a little ragged now as I am constantly referring to it! Hope to ‘chat’ with you more in the future
Hi Natalie,
Congratulations on a fantastic website. At last there is somebody else who is a huge Fan of Anne. Her legacy lived on in her daughter but we must embrace Anne in her own right. I can’t thankyou enough! Hope to hear from you soon!
Deborah
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Deborah! It is so nice to be able to share my passion for Tudor history with other enthusiasts. Stay in touch!
Hi Natalie, just wanted to say thank you! for a lovely website, I follow the links from facebook and it always gives me something interesting to read. I love Royal history and my interest started when I was given a book called Kings and Queens, a collection of poems for children. I still remember the poem about Henry VIII and it made me obsessed with the six wives. For my 11th birthday my Aunt took me to London and I planned my whole trip around Anne Boleyn! Thanks again. Ruth
Thank you Ruth! It is so nice to hear from happy readers, really motivates me to keep putting in the long hours. So you have been On the Tudor Trail since 11 years old – that is fabulous! Look forward to chatting with you more about all things Tudor x
Hi Natalie,
I enjoy your site so much, and am a big follower on FaceBook. I remember the rhyme I learned in childhood, from I believe a L M Alcott book, about Henry the Eighth to six spouses was wedded. I’ve never forgotten it, and came into a love of the time and tales at a young age. Thanks for having so much fun with this, and sharing it with all of us.
Thank you Tina for your support and encouragement, it means a lot to me!
Love reading your posts on the Tudors, some things i already know and some i didn’t know, but even if I already knew something i still read as i’m in love with the tudors and love anything to do with them have done since i was a child.
Keep up your great work.
Thank you Vicky! It is wonderful to be able to share my passion for Tudor history with so many enthusiastic and supportive people. Stay in touch!
Hi Natalie: Your site is wonderful, I love everything you post in it. All about history is the best for me, I was in London this year in the month of March, for 12 days, and dedicate to visit every day a History place, Hampton Court palace, Windsor Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, St Albans Cathedral, etc, well a lot of wonderful places and I will like to go back to see more places….
Owesome site…..xoxo….p.e
Hello Natalie,
I came across your website today while I was researching a trip taken by my aunt in 1925; I read with interest the account of the 11 yr. old boy meeting with something strange in Hampton Court Palace, and wanted to share my own experience. In the spring of 1993 I visited the U.K. with two friends; all three of us were at the time active in a medieval reenactment group here in the U.S. so were interested in all things relevant to that era. They wanted to visit Hampton Court and although I only had a nodding acquaintance with it, I went along for the ride. As we came up from the tube stop/train station I remember at the moment I saw the whole complex spread out before me I absolutely had hair-raising cold chills and the strangest light-headed feeling; in times past I think this would have been described as “the vapors.” I shook it off and went on to the palace. Exactly that same feeling occurred again as I turned a corner into one hallway. Once again I shook it off but learned LATER that this was the hallway by the royal chapel where Katherine Howard was said to have run to plead for mercy from Henry.
While I love history and think if reincarnation is “real” I must have spent many happy lives in England, I’ve never felt this anywhere else before or since – although I will admit to a case of “the creeps” in the Tower, in the museum at Chester (Deva) among the Roman artifacts…and in the Coliseum in Rome. Hmmm…
Just thought I’d pass this on as one more affirmation that some of the terrible emotional turmoil that took place there must have left its mark.
Hello Stephanie, thank you for taking the time to say hello. It never ceases to amaze me just how many people have experienced something they cannot truly explain at both Hampton Court and the Tower of London. I do believe that when an event is emotionally charged, some of that energy seeps into the walls and floors forming a kind of recording if you like. These recordings I think are played back at different times to those sensitive enough to ‘see’ them.
Hi Natalie
Firstly congrats you have a great site, very easy to use & full of facts & info.
I thought that I would email you as I am the site supervisor of Carew Manor which is now a school.
Carew manor is the sister building to Hampton Court. My aim is to get the grounds & building to is very best as I feel that a building such as this demands it.
I have not got the funds to spend on it as Hampton Court has so it will take a few years.
I don’t know if you have ever been to Carew Manor so if you are ever passing this way at a weekend drop me a line & I may be able to sort out a cup of tea & a tour of the Building, Grounds and the Great Hall.
Kind regards
Nicholas
Thank you for your kind words Nicholas! I agree with you that Carew Manor should be at its best, as it is a very important historical building. If there is anything I can do to help you promote the building or help raise funds please let me know as I would be delighted to assist. I would absolutely love to do a tour of the building and spectacular great hall. I will be in England next October and so hopefully can visit then. In the meantime, do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any more help.
Warm regards,
Natalie
Natalie
You are very welcome at any time to visit Carew Manor knowing that Henry VIII, Anne Bolyen, Elizabeth I & Sir Walter Raliegh have walked/ hunted in the grounds. Sleeeping overnight as & when they wanted to.
I look forward to your visit ( No Charge)
Kind regards
Nick
Thank you so much Nicholas! I look forward to the visit. Natalie
Special Calendar: ‘Blanche Parry & Queen Elizabeth I’, superb pictures, full text, to be treasured, will not be repeated, see: http://www.blancheparry.com
This is a great website! I was so happy to find the story of AB’s locket ring here…it is one of my favorite bits of Ann Boleyn lore.
Hi Joann! Nice of you to drop by. Thank you for your lovely comment. How is the book coming along?
Dear Natalie
First of all, I love English history particularly the Tudor times. I am Japanese, I have been in uk more than 10years. Most of my English friends are puzzeled why I love the Tudor history so much. I believe because I am feeling exactly like you about The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and those medieval buildings.
I do understand your feeling “absorbing its history and its moods.
As you introduce some writers of the Tudor times, I’m afraid I haven’t read all those books.Alison Weir is one of those famous writers.I just started reading one of her books. I wouldn’t be surprised about that fact there are many Tudor history fans in the world
Welcome Eko! I love to hear from other Tudor enthusiasts and you are absolutely correct – there are Tudor fans all over the world!
Hi Natalie
What a delightful website you have, congratulations. I stumbled across it when searching for information about the voice of Anne Boleyn and ‘Q&A with Suzannah’ came up on Google. I hope you don’t mind but I have referenced it in some work I am doing on the voice of Anne Boleyn as part of my studies.
Kind Regards
Laura
Welcome Laura! I am glad that you stumbled on my website and hope that you will return often. Happy New Year!
Hi there,
I have to admit that for a very long time I didn’t know much about Britain’s royal history (I was more interested in ancient history). But my best friend Jule is a very big fan and it took her only 15 minutes to convince me, too (with a little help of the marvellous Alison Weir). And now for about 9 months I’ve been reading all kinds of books (science books as well as novels) and simply can’t get enough. And now I even found this wonderful website and I’m all excited so THANKS A LOT!
See you soon.
Warm regards
Patrizia
I would love to be given the chance of winning the valentines day book giveaway, as it looks amazing! I am a huge reader of historical fiction and adore Anne Boleyn and love to read anything that is related to Tudor history.
I would be so greatful if i could be entered into this competition. xxx
Also, i would like to thank you for such an amazing website which is really great as a lover of the tudors! It all began when i was taken to Hampton Court palace as a child aged 12, and since i have loved everything about this time period and the Royal family including reading works by CJ Sansom etcetera. xxx