Loseley House- panelling from Nonsuch Palace, a portrait of Anne Boleyn and more!

This historic manor house is situated outside Guildford in Surrey, England.

Loseley House

The direct descendants of the current owners, the More-Molyneux family, acquired the estate in the 16^th century and the current house was built in the 1560’s to replace a smaller house. Elizabeth I felt that the original house was not up to hosting a royal guest and so requested that something more adequate be built. It is said that the current house was built with stones from the ruins of Waverley Abbey.

Loseley House Anne Boleyn Portrait

Loseley’s magnificent Great Hall contains panelling from Henry VIII’s Nonsuch Palace and his banqueting tents. The Hall also houses a collection of royal portraits including an 18^th century painting of Anne Boleyn wearing a ‘black décolleté dress with pearls and a pendant with A H on it.’ The house is also home to a selection of 16^th century furniture.

The Drawing Room has a gilded ceiling decorated for James I’s visit and you can also visit the bedrooms where Elizabeth I and James I slept during their stays.

Carvings above the fireplace in the library, dated 1570, commemorate one of Elizabeth’s four visits to the house.

Loseley House also boasts an award winning rose garden, herb garden, flower garden and organic vegetable garden.

The house is opened to visitors between May and August with the gardens also opened in September.

The thought of seeing even a small part of Henry’s Nonsuch Palace, a great selection of royal portraits and 16^th century furniture is enough for me to add this home to my list of ‘must-see’ destinations.

Thank you to Alison Weir who provided the scan of the Loseley portrait of Anne Boleyn.

Click here to see a selection of photos of the interior of Loseley House.