Picture of Rochford Hall

This was formerly one of the largest houses in Essex, with at least three, if not four courtyards, and was built c.1540-1550. It was the seat and place of residence of Sir Thomas Boleyn. In the garden, on the inside of the north wall and formed by 16 vitrified bricks was a heart shaped design. The heart, so an old authority states, was an emblem of French importation and used by Henry VIII in his correspondence with Anne Boleyn. An ancient summer house of brick and tile remained in the North East corner of the garden at least until 1882!.⁵

Cranmer was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury on 30 March 1533. On 11 April 1533 he wrote to Henry VIII offering to deal with the king's cause. On 23 May 1533 the sentence was duly pronounced upon the marriage of Catherine and Henry: 'from various and multiple kinds of proof...we, Thomas, archbishop, primate and legate having first invoked the name of Christ and with God alone...declare the nullity and invalidity of the said marriage'.⁶

Anne Boleyn was married to king Henry VIII 'about St.Paul's day last, [25 January 1533], as the condition thereof doth well appear, by reason she is now somewhat big with child,' or so Archbishop Cranmer reported in his letter describing the Coronation of Anne on 17 June 1533.⁷ On 7 September 1533 the princess Elizabeth was born to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

Rochford Hall