BLICKLING HALL
Once the home of the Boleyn family between 1499 and 1505. Anne Boleyn was the
most famous of the children who later married Henry V111 and was eventually
beheaded after giving birth to a still-born son. It is rumoured that on the anniversary
of execution, Anne Boleyn's headless ghost arrives at Blickling Hall in a carriage
driven by headless horsemen with her head sat in her lap. She has been sighted
usually outside of the hall mostly and often in the grounds and by the large lake and
always with her head seperate from her body during her hauntings.
Blickling Hall is one of the most haunted houses in Britain according to the National
Trust.
The estate covers nearly 5000 acres including woodland, parkland and farmland.
Ponds and gardens. Formal and informal gives access to the public with the nearest
town being Aylsham near by. Blickling sits on a flat site with a mysterious history.
Henry was in love with Anne who was considered beautiful and stylish and became
very powerful on her marriage despite navigating a busy court of treacherous people. Many did not like her. Anne tried to step out of the shadow of a more
popular Queen, Catherine. But when Anne, did not provide Henry with a son and
heir to the throne, much went against her, and the marriage went cold.
Henry needed to find a way of getting rid of her. He was also infatuated with another young lady and sought grounds to have Anne removed. Eventually, Anne
was put on trial for treason and was found guilty. On the morning of the 19th May
1536 Anne was taken to the block and beheaded whilst still saying her prayers.
King Henry had been waiting for a gun signal far off, and on hearing this, he then
rode off to meet Jane Seymour, who would become his next wife.
Anne was beheaded at Tower Green, london, but because of her happy childhood
days at Blickling Hall, her spirit keeps returning.
Sandringham House is the retreat of HM The Queen. It has been the private home
of four generations of British monarchs since 1862. Set in 60 acres of beautiful
gardens at the core of 20.000 acres of woodland. Open to the public free of charge
attracting thousands of visitors yearly. From the main road it is a long drive between tall pine trees and flowers to reach the estate. Because of the tall trees
the walking areas are cool in the shade. There is open grounds to walk and a gift
shop next to a restaurant where you can purchase tickets to enter either the
grounds of the house or to view rooms inside. Not all the house is accessable.
There is a stunning lake surrounded by flowers and waterfalls and a museum
nearby. There are many stately halls in Norfolk with rural idylic picture postcard
settings. Visit my website to see some pictures I have taken which I am still
compiling:
www.worldwidetraveltips.co.uk