Castle fit for a notorious British king

Westenhanger Castle in Kent, once owned by Henry VIII and visited by Elizabeth I, is for sale.

Westenhanger Castle in Kent, UK. Courtesy: Jackson-Stops & Staff

A castle once owned by the notorious 16th century British monarch, Henry VIII, is for sale on the open market.
Westenhanger Castle in Kent fell into the hands of the crown in 1540 due to a common law doctrine which transfers property to the state previously owned by a person who dies with no identifiable heirs. Henry VIII claimed it for his daughter, Mary, as an added palace for the crown, and carried out improvements recorded in The King's Works.
And, according to agent Jackson-Stops & Staff, it remained one of the many royal palaces until 1581 when one of Henry VIII's other daughters, Elizabeth I, who reigned as queen at the time, gave it to her collector of customs.
The current owners, the Forge family, bought the property in 1996 and have since carried out restoration works with English Heritage.
"Henry VIII effectively used Westenhanger as his private B&B when visiting the south of England on state affairs," owner Graham Forge told UK newspaper, The Daily Mail.
"He certainly would never have brought any of his wives here but is known to have taken his mistresses to the house instead."
"He made many large improvements to the house because he was concerned about an invasion and wanted a permanent castle on the south coast."
Mr Forge added that he developed the gardens for Mary, who he hoped would move there, but it is not known if she even visited the property. Elizabeth I did, however, entertaining hundreds of guests with feasts that could last days, according to The Daily Mail.
Once surrounded by a moat with towers and a drawbridge, the property has several parts.
The manor house with adjoining dovecote tower features two bedrooms and a one-bedroom apartment complete with a bathroom, living room and kitchen. But the central living accommodation, which potentially stretches over three floors, is incomplete. The owners are currently also building a medieval kitchen.
There is also a wedding venue, offering potential buyers a business opportunity included, and two 16th century grade 1 listed barns plus a workshop and plant storage area which are all for sale by separate negotiation.
Q&A
Who was Henry VIII?
He reigned as the King of England from April 1509 until his death in January 1547, and was the second monarch of the Tudor dynasty. But he is perhaps best known for his relationship with his wives.
Why so?
King Henry was married six times, and became the first person to effectively divorce in the UK, although technically the marriages were annulled.
Who were his wives?
He married his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, previously the wife of Prince Arthur, his brother, after his sibling's death. However, he fell in love with his mistress Anne Boleyn, so had his trust with Queen Catherine annulled. She was then accused of adultery, incest and treason and executed. But by that time, Henry was already courting another mistress, Jane Seymour, whom he went on to marry. After she died unexpectedly, he married Anne of Cleves. That union was also annulled, as was his fifth marriage to Catherine Howard, who was later executed on the grounds of adultery and treason. His sixth wife, Catherine Parr, outlived him.
Is there anything left in the property to link it with royalty?
Yes, according to the agent, there is ancient graffiti near a window, which is said to depict James II.
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