Rochford Hall: Where King Henry VIII 'met Anne Boleyn'

Rochford Hall belonged to then-Viscount of Rochford Thomas Boleyn, during the reign of King Henry VIII in the 16th century. It was the marital home of his daughter Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne Boleyn.

It is thought to be where the King first clapped eyes on a young Anne Boleyn. There are even rumours that they used to secretly meet via the manor's underground passageway, which is still there today. However, their romance quickly got the chop.

King Henry VIII - as painted by Hans Holbein. (Image: Pixabay)

Rochford Hall was given to Mary, Anne's sister, and her second husband, William Stafford, in 1534 by their father Sir Thomas Boleyn.

Mary was previously the mistress of King Henry, although their entanglement ended a year before Anne’s courtship with him. Talk about a family affair...

Henry and Anne officially married in January 1533, but married "in secret" months earlier, in November 1532. They had a daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth I. 

But neither their marriage - nor Anne - was to last much longer.

Historic - the manor house stands proud in the Rochford countryside. (Image: Julie Gooding)

Following the tragic stillbirth of a baby son, and increasingly poor relations with Oliver Cromwell, Anne was accused of being an adulterer. She was charged with being in an incestuous relationship with her brother and of treason.

She was sentenced to death by beheading at the Tower of London in 1536, just three years after her marriage to the King - who moved on to his third wife, Jane Seymour.

Clubhouse - inside Rochford Hall as it is used today. (Image: Julie Gooding)

Half a century later, Rochford Hall stands as the clubhouse for the Rochford Hundred Golf Club.

With thanks to Julie Gooding, Rochford councillor responsible for tourism.