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Henry VIII at Athelhampton House

Athelhampton is a beautiful stately home - one of the finest country houses in Dorset - but it was hardly the place for royalty in the 16th Century. Royal progresses, where the monarch essentially went "on tour" around the country, were huge affairs, involving hundreds if not thousands of people. Athelhampton, while a big house by modern standards, wasn't ever big enough to host the royal court.


A photo of the Great Hall at Athelhampton. The front door is open, on the left hand side, and is visible through the doorway in the screen. The sun is streaming through the stained glass window in the centre of the image, and through the oriel window on the right hand side. Beneath the central window is a portrait of Henry VIII. The light from the windows creates shadows on the floor, and across the large rectangular wooden table in the centre of the room. On the table is a large wooden bowl full of dried hydrangea heads.

Sir William Martyn, who built some of the earliest parts of Athelhampton, escorted Catherine of Aragon on a leg of her journey to meet Prince Arthur, who she was to marry, but it seems unlikely she ever visited Athelhampton House. Henry VIII came on a Royal Progress which reached Dorset in 1510, but the closest things came to Henry VIII at Athelhampton was his visit to Corfe Castle, nearly 20 miles away.


However, all that history aside, there's a chance for you to meet Henry VIII at Athelhampton very soon! On Friday the 15th of November, Henry VIII will grant you an audience in the Great Hall at Athelhampton House, from 6:30pm.


A photo of an actor playing Henry VIII, wearing a yellow doublet with slashing, a silk brocade jerkin with a floral pattern, an orange-tawny silk sash, and a deep red gown with fur lining and gold trim. He wears a flat pancake hat trimmed with jewels and ostrich feathers. He is in the middle of speaking, with his arms outstretched to either side, gesturing.

The King, recently married to his new, and sixth, wife, Queen Catherine Parr, is in poor health; his leg continues to cause him considerable pain and he is often in a poor humour!

His Majesty will recount the events of his long reign; telling of his wives and his children, and His Majesty will invite his Loyal Subjects to Petition him or question him on ANY related subject : there may be some surprising answers - a lively Q&A is assured!


Tickets are available here.

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