Saturday, June 16, 2012

ENGLAND TRIP: Day 4:, Part 5 : Hampton Court Palace: The Silver Stick Staircase and Ghostly Jane

WHAT IS SILVER STICK STAIRCASE IN HAMPTON COURT PALACE? The Silver Stick staircase is the set of stairs that led to Queen Jane Seymour's apartment in the Hampton Court Palace.
Jane Seymour by Hans Holben the Younger


WHO WAS JANE SEYMOUR? - On May 30, 1536 Henry VIII married Jane Seymour in the Queen’s Closet at Whitehall Palace (you read about that in the earlier posting about the Banqueting House, which is all that's left of Whitehall Palace). Jane Seymour was publicly declared queen on June 4, 1536.
On October 12, 1537, Jane retired to Hampton Court Palace and gave birth to a boy who would become King Edward VI at 9 years old (and died at 16 years old of illness)!   
    On October 24, 1537, only 12 days after the birth of Prince Edward, Jane died in her apartments. These apartments don't exist anymore.

DID YOU KNOW? Within 24 hours of the execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife, Jane Seymour and Henry VIII were formally betrothed.

VIDEO - We made this video where Tom describes how Jane Seymour's ghost haunts this Silver Stick Staircase.

HAS JANE SEYMOUR'S GHOST BEEN SEEN HERE?   Yes. Jane's ghost has been seen gliding through the cobbled grounds of Clock Court and on October 12th, the anniversary of the birth of Edward. Then the ghost ascends the Sliver Stick Staircase leading to the Silver Stick Gallery. Her figure is seen dressed in a white robe and carrying a candle.

WHAT'S WEIRD ABOUT HER BURIAL? I can understand why her burial would cause her unrest to linger as a ghost. When she died, her tomb at Windsor Castle was not finished. So, her heart and other organs were removed and buried somewhere under the high altar in the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court. Why they did that, I don't know- but basically, they desecrated her body.


COMING UP: Henry VIII's Private Bed Chamber and Secret Door!




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I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob

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