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Anne Boleyn's rare books reunited after 490 years
19 May
Summary
- Two of Anne Boleyn's religious books are reunited for display.
- The books are shown at Hever Castle, her childhood home.
- The display marks the 490th anniversary of her execution.
Two rare manuscripts belonging to Anne Boleyn are on display at Hever Castle, her childhood home. This exhibition commemorates the 490th anniversary of her execution on May 19, 1536. The two religious books, a personal prayer book and a copy of Ecclesiastes, are believed to have been reunited for the first time since Boleyn's death.
The prayer book, owned by Hever Castle, will be open to a page showing her signature and the French phrase "Le temps viendra, Je Anne Boleyn." The Ecclesiastes, on loan from Alnwick Castle, will feature her royal emblem on display. This specific copy of Ecclesiastes was made for Anne in 1534, during her time as Queen of England, and is noted for its radical religious reform text.
The manuscripts will be exhibited together until January 2027. However, they will only be opened on Tuesdays to prevent light damage. Historians describe the Ecclesiastes as a significant item, rare due to its original velvet binding and embossed royal symbols, reflecting Boleyn's queenship and her alignment with Protestant reforms.
