A Windsor property, once the home of an ill-fated wife of Henry VIII, will go up for auction this week. A four-bed, split-level maisonette was once owned by Anne Boleyn and it is believed she lived in it while she was in a secret relationship with the King during his marriage to his first wife Catherine of Aragon.
Located close to Windsor Castle, it was a prime location for their courtship which is believed to have started in 1526 and lasted for around seven years. The property is being sold by Auction House London with a guide price of £325,000 and is located in the centre of the historic town. Joe Labelda, auction specialist at Auction House London, said: “When you set foot inside this gorgeous timber-framed building, you instantly step into the past.”
Packed with period features, the property gives subtle hints to its past, with its wooden beams left exposed in the Tudor style.
It is located within King Anne’s Court, a nod to its most famous former resident.
Labelda added: “With its exposed beams and characterful features, it’s easy to imagine retracing the footsteps of one of England’s most famous historical women, who continues to hold a fascination for us nearly 500 years after her death.
“This is a rare opportunity to seize a slice of history and live in a place that remains steeped in romance.
“If you are a history-lover seeking to become a custodian of a piece of 16th century history, this is the property for you.”
The property is being auctioned by Auction House London via an online and in-person sale on 2 July.
Anne Boleyn was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 and gave birth to Queen Elizabeth I who went on to be one of the most well-known monarchs in the country’s history.
However, she was unable to provide her husband with a male heir, and he quickly entered a secret relationship with Jane Seymour, who would become his third wife.
In 1536, Henry ordered that Anne be investigated for high treason, a crime which she was found guilty for, although historians now believe she was innocent.
She was beheaded in 1536.
The property is being sold with 997 years left on a 999-year lease with potential buyers advised to make sure they understand the auction bidding process and the differences between buying at auction and via an estate agent.