Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-02-18

HEN william waldorf AS
NN/ tor, newly raised to the
" peerage, was called on to
select his title, he turned
to Hever castle, his favorite residence,
on which he has spent a mint of
money. and called himself Baron As
tor OF Hever castle. It was built by
certain William de Hevere, who was
sheriff of Kent In the reign of Ed
ward ]. belonged to Lord Gotham, I'M
der Henry w, and subsequently to the
Scropes and the De Boleyns, and was
the home in turn of two consorts of
Henry VIII, namely, Queen Anne of
aCleves, and Queen Anne Boleyn.
whose oratory remains to this day
one of the most beautiful features of
the castle. The Waldegraves also
made their home at Hever, then the
Humphreys, and finally the Waldos,
Huguenot family, from whom William
Waldorf Aston purchased it, about
twelve years ago. 1t is one of the
most beautiful and picturesque coun-
try seats in Kent, county renowned
for its grand old castles and manors,
and restored by its present owner re-
CARELESS Of expense, with a wonderful
taste and archaeological reverence, it is
a perfect treasure house of history
and of art.
To reach Hever castle from London,
the traveller must take his ticket by
the London, Brighton & South Coast
fJvyov for E1aphr;doa Tho
is only % miles down into what is
called the Kentish weald. Arrived at
Edenbridse, the visitor finds himself
close to tiny village situated upon
the Eden, branch Of the Midway,
and here a small and sluggish stream,
writes w. Seton Gordon. A cottage or
two Of ancient appearance, venera-
able inn. the Henry VIII." with plas-
ter walls framed by oak beams;
forge, post Office and near them
stone church with a tower and shin
gled spire surmounting the hilltop;
this is Hever village. Below are the
towers of Hever castle.
In the latter only, now gilt by the
touch of millionaire, one percelves
that changes have been recently
wrought; for the cottages, inn and
church look as If they have slumbered
for centuries. Here are still the
matched roof, the loaded window with
diamond pane, and those quaint and
unaccustomed things which, when con-
trasted with the fresh and fair beauty
of an English landscape, are so
strangely grateful to the eyes of the
American traveller.
Back to the Norman Times.
The church dates from early Nor
man times, but it is doubtful whether
any of the oldest structure remains,
unless it be part of the font. The res
toration Of it, however, undertaken
about eighteen years ago, has been
carefully carried out and much of in
terest to the antiquarian preserved.
At the point where the chancel and
nave meet may still be seen the door
way and staircase leading to the rood
loft, although the latter has long been
removed. Here, also, may be found
that strange reminder of the leprosy
once 30 prevalent in England, a hagio-
scope or leper's squint. now closed on
the outside. Standing behind this, the
unfortunate could obtain view of the
side altar or chantry. There Is also
a leper's window on the south side of
the chancel.
The north chancel is known as the
Boleyn chapel and was built by Sir
Godfrey. 1t contains a piscina and
aumbry, and is separated from the
chancel by Tudor arches.
To visit Hever castle, one must
cross the oaken drawbridge suspended
as of old on it's hanging chains, not
failing to admire the broad waters of
the moat, which glitter in the sun
shine. Standing beneath the keep, one
notes the absence of the ivy which
once covered it, but which was re-
moved by its present owner to dis
close the rugged beauty of the tower.
Here is the first portcullis, this heavy
oaken grating, studded with rusty
bolts with jagged teeth to impale the
unbidden intruder, and travelling be-
tween upii6ht sroofes IN winch the
antique chains still suspend it. Be-
.yond it hangs the second portcullis,
set in the further wall of the keep, and
leading into the courtyard. On this
very spot where we are standing have
often stood Cardinal Wolsey and Arch
bishop Cranmer, Rockford and his sis
ter Anne, Suffolk and Wyatt. as well as
their cruel and bloody king.