There have been three main periods in the construction of Hever castle. The oldest part of the castle was built about 1270 by Sir William de Hever and consisted of the massive gatehouse and a walled Bailey surrounded by a moat with a wooden drawbridge. In about 1500, the Bullen family added a comfortable Tudor house inside the protective wall. Finally, in 1903 the castle was bought by William Waldorf Astor who restored and filled it with treasures built an adjacent Tudor village and created the lake and gardens. Hever has had many distinguished owners including Sir William de Hever, Sir John Falstaff, the Bullens, King Henry VIII, Anne of Cleves (Henry's fourth wife) and the Astors. Since 1983 a private company has owned Hever Castle.

In 1498, Thomas Bullen married Elizabeth Howard, daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. They had several children including George (b1503), Mary (b1504) and the ill-fated Anne (b1507)...