Unique Talk On The Hidden History of Hever Castle
Visitors to The Festival Theatre at Hever Castle are invited to uncover centuries of forgotten stories at The Hidden History of Hever Castle, a exclusive illustrated talk by renowned historian Dr Owen Emmerson, taking place on Sunday 1st March at 4pm.
Set within the historic Hever Castle estate, this talk will be a fascinating journey into Hever’s past. Over cream tea, Dr Emmerson will share newly uncovered research, archival discoveries and long-overlooked details that reveal a far more complex and surprising history of the castle than previously understood.
The talk will explore how recent findings are reshaping understanding of the castle’s architecture and the lives of those who lived and worked within its walls. These discoveries are already influencing future room interpretations and displays at Hever, shedding new light on aspects of the castle’s story that have remained obscured for centuries.
Drawing on both professional research and a lifelong personal connection to Hever Castle, Dr Emmerson will also bring items from his own personal collection of historical treasures for closer inspection.
The afternoon promises good company, engaging conversation and a privileged glimpse into Hever Castle’s evolving narrative. Guests are warmly encouraged to arrive up to an hour early to enjoy a walk around Hever Castle’s gardens before the event.
This fundraiser is generously supported by Dr Owen Emmerson, the Hever Castle Curatorial Team, Hever Castle and Gardens, and Visual Elements Ltd.
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Dr Owen Emmerson is a social and cultural historian, co-author of five books and a regular contributor to television and radio history programmes. He works part-time as Assistant Curator at Hever Castle and is a historical consultant for major productions, most recently the BBC’s adaptation of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light. His forthcoming book, Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn, co-written with Kate McCaffrey, will be published in February 2026.
Dr Emmerson has written for BBC HistoryExtra, The Telegraph, Radio Times, The Daily Mirror, Jacobin and The Express, and has appeared in more than 20 documentaries on the Tudor period, including Blood, Sex, and Royalty: Anne Boleyn (Netflix, 2022), The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family (BBC Two, 2021), and Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC).
• Visit heverfestival.co.uk
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