The Great Hall

Rare Tudor ring thought to have belonged to the Boleyn family

Discovered in a field in Kent near the country home of one of Queen Anne Boleyn’s cousins which she visited with King Henry VIII, the gold signet ring provides a tantalising link to the family. The ring is engraved with a bull’s head and arrayed with sunbeams and stars of white enamel, and is also decorated with icons of the Virgin and Child and St Catherine of Alexandria on its shoulders, making it an unusual combination of both personal and religious jewellery. The ring has been analysed at the British Museum where it was found to be consistent with objects of the early Tudor era, leading historians to suggest that it may have belonged to either Thomas or George Boleyn – Anne Boleyn’s father and brother. The heraldic bull’s head featured on it also appears in the arms of the Boleyn family, including in a version on the seal of a document from Thomas Boleyn dating to that period. It was likely chosen as a visual pun or rebus on the family name, which was often spelled as ‘Bullen’.

The ring is not thought to have belonged to Anne herself, due to the fact she bore her own arms after her marriage to King Henry VIII, with this signet ring also being a typically male item of jewellery which would have been too large for a woman. However, both Thomas and George held the title of Viscount Rochford from 1525 and 1529 successively, meaning that either man would have been entitled to bear the monogram for Rochford. The ring features an initial that could denote the letter R – further strengthening the claim that it has links to the two Boleyn men. Sir Thomas Boleyn (c.1477 – 1539) was one of Henry VIII’s most influential courtiers and was even created Knight of the Garter at the King’s accession in 1509. His son George (c.1504 – 1536) later followed in his footsteps to enter the King’s service, becoming a senior privy chamber servant, master of the King’s buckhounds and also ambassador to France. However, his favour with the King meant nothing when he was later implicated in his sister’s downfall, meeting the same fate as Anne at the Tower of London in 1536.

The ring was discovered not far from Shurland Hall on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, which was the home of Sir Thomas Cheney (or Cheyne), a relative of the Boleyns as well as Constable of the Kent castles of Rochester and Dover, and reported Treasure via the Portable Antiquities Scheme. The religious symbolism may well also hold the key to the ring’s original owner, with St Catherine being known for her scholarly defence of her faith, and the choice of saint perhaps referring to Henry’s first wife, Katherine of Aragon. There is a possibility the ring may have alternatively belonged to another wealthy Tudor who bore the same badge, although this does not change the fact that is a remarkable piece of surviving jewellery from the era.

This exquisite object has been acquired by Historic Royal Palaces – the charity that cares for Hampton Court Palace. It will now be shown to visitors in the Great Hall, which sits at the very heart of the surviving Tudor palace (the apartments built for Queen Anne Boleyn were lost in the 17th century).

The ring was acquired under the Treasure Act of 1996, administered by the British Museum on behalf of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Historic Royal Palaces is also grateful for the generous financial support from the Arts Council England / V&A Purchase Grant Fund, and donations from its own patrons.

Great Hall history

Remodelling the original palace

Masons and bricklayers began work on this Great Hall in 1532. They replaced a smaller hall that had been built between 1495-1514 and had later been remodelled by Henry VIII's chief minister Thomas Wolsey.

Wolsey had died in disgrace in 1530 having failed to secure the annulment of Henry VIII's marriage to Katherine of Aragon. By this time, Henry had taken over Wolsey's palace at Hampton Court.

Dining and entertaining at the Tudor Court

Great halls were places for eating and for entertaining. On a day-to-day basis, this Great Hall acted as a large refectory for the lower-ranking members of the royal household and servants.

Meals cooked in the nearby great kitchens were served here twice a day. Sittings for dinner started at 10 o'clock in the morning and for supper at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

A royal theatre

On special occasions the Great Hall was used for plays, dances, and masques. James I's court spent Christmas and New Year 1603-4 at Hampton Court to escape an outbreak of plague in London.

During the festive celebrations William Shakespeare and his company of players performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Great Hall.

By the early 1700s the Great Hall had stopped being used for dining and instead a permanent theatre was built into the space. It included a stage with a proscenium arch, and tiers of raked seating for the audience.

Restorations

The theatre was removed in 1800 by the architect James Wyatt who attempted to restore the Great Hall to its Tudor glory. A second restoration was undertaken in the 1840s by Edward Jesse.

It was during Jesse's works that the stained-glass windows were added. The colourful glass displays the genealogy of Henry VIII, his six wives, and his chief minister Thomas Wolsey.