Little Sodbury Manor

During the 1535 royal summer progress, King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn stayed at Little Sodbury. The manor, originally built in the 15^th century, was the home of Sir John Walsh and his wife.

The Walshes had employed William Tyndale “in the awkward days before he had fled abroad to escape Wolsey’s persecution” (Starkey, Pg. 532). Tradition has him beginning his translation of the bible in one of the bedrooms.

Sir John inherited the property in 1504 and remodelled the home in c. 1510-1520. In Greater Medieval House of England and Wales, Sir John’s work is described:

“A popular courtier, he added the south range, rebuilt the kitchen with its upper room, remodelled the hall windows and west bay, and extended the north wing” (Pg. 117).

The manor today is a mixture of several building periods.

Of the 15^th century house remains the porch and the impressive Great Hall.

I imagine that Henry and Anne would have dined in the Great Hall during their visit in 1535.

Today the manor is privately owned by Lord and Lady Killearn who do not open the home to the public, however, Sarah Morris and I were lucky enough to be given a private tour of Little Sodbury, as part of our research trip for our upcoming book, In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn.

More on this adventure coming soon!

View an image of the Manor house here.

View an image of the Great Hall here.