‘Tis Hever Fever! 170 Year 8 students went on a terrific trip to spearheaded by the inimitable Mr Andrews. The group had a guided tour of the Castle, viewed the beautiful Tudor Gardens and lake, and roamed around the adventure playground & labyrinthine water maze!
Read below three reports from our students:
” With our backpacks filled with snacks, water bottles, and of course extra water for the scorching day ahead of us, we boarded the bus that would take us on our journey. Laughter and chatter filled the atmosphere until we had finally arrived at the magnificent Hever Castle, after a long and painful 2-hour journey.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by the magnificent sight of Hever Castle, surrounded by lush greenery of carefully carved out sculptures of bushes, and of course the spectacular view of the castle. The castle stood tall and proud and looked clean as ever. We were led by our keen teachers over the drawbridge, feeling as if we were stepping into a different dimension of time.
The day was filled with various fun and interesting activities which brought the magnificent history of the castle to life. We embarked on our journey through time into the castle. We were led by a knowledgeable and engaging guide who shared captivating stories and intriguing facts about the castle’s former owners, including William Waldorf Astor, and of course the famous Anne Boleyn.
Inside the castle, we gazed around the opulent rooms adorned with exquisite tapestries, antique furniture, and ornate artwork. Each room seemed to hold a piece of history, so that we couldn’t help but imagine what life was like in those times and its great differences to life today
After the castle tour, we eagerly explored the castle grounds. We wandered curiously through the maze, discovering hidden pathways, fragrant flowers, and intricately designed hedges. The serene lake, with its graceful swans gliding through the water, provided a picturesque backdrop for us to capture the beauty of nature and of course photograph.
As lunchtime approached, we all gathered on a lawn with a spectacular view of the castle, enjoying the view while we relaxed from all of the puzzling but intriguing information that had showered us. It was also a time to relax from the immense heat that had overtaken us throughout the day. It almost went up to 30 degrees!
In the afternoon, we dove into a water maze which was a nice and refreshing way to cool off from the sun blazing above us. As gently we stepped on one of the planks, a refreshing stream of water sprayed up into the air and then gently on our faces, cooling us instantly. As we wandered some more, we were surprised by unexpected jets of water that dashed in every direction. We all rushed around hurriedly, trying not to be showered on.
As the day ended, we all had smiles on our faces and memories etched in our minds. We said goodbye to Hever Castle, remembering all the positive, enjoyable and fascinating experiences that we had today, hoping that we could do it once again.” – Julian ( Year 8)
“To say the least, our trip to Hever Castle was very enjoyable. We learned about its historical significance, got lost in the Yew Maze, awed at the beauty of the gardens and got soaked in the water maze.
We had an amazing tour of the castle, and we learnt a lot about its history, particularly during the Tudor times.
Hever Castle is the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife of his infamous six wives. Many say that the reason why England broke from Rome was because Henry wanted to marry Anne. However, Anne was executed in 1536 because she was accused of treason, adultery and incest.
A few days before we visited, an amazing discovery was made. Thomas Cromwell’s book was found. We can see this book in Hans Holbein’s portrait of Cromwell. This book is thought to be the only object from any Tudor portrait to survive to this day.
The less historical side of the trip was still very much enjoyed. Everyone had a great time in the two mazes that were in the gardens of Hever Castle. A race through the Yew Maze was taken very seriously and the water maze was the perfect way to refresh ourselves on the hot day that the trip was on. The adventure playground was a great way to let loose during our trip.
Overall, on behalf of our year, this trip was thoroughly appreciated, and everyone had an excellent time. Thank you, Hever Castle, for having us!” – Mia (Year 8)
“Our Year 8 trip to Hever Castle was well-timed to coincide with one of the hottest days of the year. So whether taking a tour of the house away from the heat, cooling down in the water maze or enjoying an ice cream by the lake, it was such a fun way to spend the day.
We spotted fish in the moat as we crossed over the drawbridge and under the portcullis, ducking under the low doorways as we entered the castle, feeling that we had stepped back in time. Arrow slits, the remnants of murder holes above the drawbridge and a purposely uneven spiral stone staircase to scupper infiltrators, reminded us that the castle and its wealthy occupants would have been fiercely protected from attack.
Home to the Boleyn family, Henry VIII was a frequent visitor as he courted the young Anne. He even had his own bedroom, replete with furnishings fit for a king; this included an impressive four poster bed with canopy, apparently to prevent vermin from falling on the occupant during their slumber! Anne’s own room was much smaller in comparison.
The informative tour guide brought us to the impressive dining room with tapestried walls. This was the brightest room owing to its enormous window, another display of wealth when built. It was overlooked by the minstrels’ gallery where lute players would have accompanied many a feast.
The hidden chapel was a fascinating part of the tour. Tiny and hidden behind fake panelling so that Catholic worship could proceed literally behind closed doors given the perilous religious climate of the time.
Upstairs I found my favourite room where, safely behind glass, were the precious books. The slightly musty smell was strangely comforting. I managed to read a few lines from Anne’s journal and was pleased to be able to translate some of the Latin, though her calligraphic scrawl was tricky to decipher to the modern eye. Best of all was the newly-discovered prayer book belonging to Thomas Cromwell, bejewelled with silver clasps.
Departing the house through the long hall lined with portraits from the Tudor dynasty we took in the impressive gardens, attempted to escape from the hedge maze and made it to everyone’s favourite part of the trip…..the water maze! Thankfully we had all come prepared with a change of clothes so the coach trip back to school wasn’t soggy!” – Nico (Year 8)
Hever Fever!
