Rochford Hall Essex
Rochford Hall in Essex is a manor house said to be where King Henry VIII first cast his eyes on a young Anne Boleyn. The Boleyns owned the home from 1515, a home claimed to be the setting of secret meetings between King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. There are even rumours of a secret tunnel system beneath the home that King Henry VIII used as his discreet escape route from the house.
The manor was originally built in 1216 and in its 16th century form, comprised a turreted manor with moat and a great hall. The hall has been greatly altered over the years and is now privately owned and operates as a golf club.
Rochford Hall
Sir Thomas was created Viscount Rochford in 1525. The title referred to the “barony” of Rochford created in 1488 for his grandfather (Thomas Butler 7th Earl of Ormond). The title had fallen into abeyance as Ormond had died without any male heir in 1515.
Mary Boleyn lived at Rochford Hall with her second husband, William Stafford, after their marriage in 1534.
Mary died at Rochford Hall on 30 July 1543 and Josephine Wilkinson suggests that ‘logic would dictate that her tomb should be at Rochford’ (Pg. 177).
Unfortunately, there is no evidence to prove that Rochford is in fact Mary’s final resting place.
Very close to Rochford Hall is Saint Andrew’s Church. It dates largely from a rebuild in the 15th century and it is said that in the former church on the site, Henry Bolingbroke (later Henry IV) married Mary de Bohun.
Saint Andrew, Rochford Parish Church
References:
Wilkinson. J. Mary Boleyn: The True Story of Henry VIII’s Favourite Mistress, 2009.
http://www.crosbyheritage.co.uk/location/rochford/st-andrews-church/
Thanks for this post, it’s helpful seeing pictures while I’m currently reading Mary Boleyn by Alison Weir.
You are welcome Julie!
Is there any chance that pictures of the rooms inside could ever be added? I’m reading Sarah Fox’s book on Viscountess Rochford and wondering how similar the house of today is to the hall then.
Hi Susan, what is left of Rochoford Hall is now a golf club so sadly the interior has been completely changed. There are offices for the staff in one section and then a bistro for patrons in another. If only we could see what it looked like in its heyday. Natalie
hmmm… wonder if im related to those people…
I was born in Rochford and christened in St. Andrew’s Church. The pub at the top of our road is named the Anne Boleyn.
Dennis Tracey I was born in Rochford and lived in Hall cottages
Over looking rochford hall.
I was born in Rochford. My middle name is Ann. I’m very proud of my little association with the real Anne Boleyn
“Mary” Never forgotten 13 GGM x x x
According to Ancestry DNA Mary Boleyn is my 15 times Grandmother. Also Jane Seymour Rodney is my 14 times Grandmother.
I so hope the reason why Mary married her second husband without anyone’s permission, was because she loved him, and knew that since he was below her socially, her father and sister would never allow her to marry him. I hope she died after years of the happiness she deserved.
I was born in Rochford General Hospital and first lived in Elderton Road, Southend-on-Sea. We then moved to Queen Anne’s Drive, Westcliff-on-Sea, which I believe was named after Anne Boleyn.