The theme for this week’s #FeatureFridays with Historic Houses is musical instruments.
Hever Castle has a musical past.
Musical instruments in the past include a pipe organ in the Inner Hall (owned by the Astor family) until it was taken out during the floods of the 1960s.
The Astors also had a grand piano in the Drawing Room – a room used for entertaining prime ministers and many well-known people. Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and George Bernard Shaw were all among the Astor’s guests.
Current owners The Guthrie family also have their own piano in the Drawing Room which they like to play when they visit.
William Waldorf Astor had a minstrel’s gallery added to the Dining Room when he bought Hever Castle at the turn of the 20th century. In Tudor times minstrel’s galleries were balconies designed to allow musicians to perform.
Henry VIII, who was said to be courted Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle, was a big fan of music.
Young visitors to Hever Castle can try out musical instruments as part of the Tudor Towers adventure playground.
If you enjoyed this item on Musical Instruments, then why not discover the previous #FeatureFridays news items:
• Mazes
• Secret passageways
• Bedrooms
• American Connections
• Weapons
• Follies
• Priest Holes
• Orchards
Book your visit to Hever Castle & Gardens.
Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
There are multiple places to eat & drink across the Hever Castle Estate. Select between the Castle & Gardens and Golf Club below to discover more.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.
