There is something quite strange here. If you go to the back of the church you wil find a pit that has been fenced
and gated off with steps that look like they lead to an underground vault. The top of this vault is brick built
and extends northward from
the North wall. Whether this was the location of the mythical (or maybe factual) heart of Anne Boleyn, who knows.
Top
From a Flicker post:
The text from the Flicker page seems to have disapppeared, at least when I looked last
"
Erwarton Hall was built during the late sixteenth century, and is said to have been one of the first great English
country houses to be built in brick. It also has a superb gatehouse, which was built about 100 year after the main
building.
The hall has strong historical links with Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's second wife.
The original Tudor mansion was owned by Sir Philip Calthorpe whose wife was Aunt to Ann Boleyn. It is known that
Ann spent
some of her childhood at the Hall and it is thought likely that Henry VIII visited her there. The two wings were demolished
by the new owner, Sir Philip Parker, and the materials used to rebuild the main part in 1575. It changed hands again in
1786 to William Berners.
The legend of Ann Boleyn’s heart being buried in Erwarton perhaps began when she is reputed to have said shortly before her
execution that the happiest days of her life were spent at the Hall.
In 1838 a heart-shaped casket containing dust was found buried in the north wall of St Mary’s Church. The casket was re-buried
under the organ.
"
From onthetudortrail.com
The legend of Anne Boleyn's heart
"
After Anne Boleyn’s execution, a number of stories arose about Anne’s body being removed from the Tower of London
and reburied elsewhere.
Other legends also emerged about Anne’s heart being stolen and hidden.
One such legend is connected with St Mary’s Church, Erwarton, in Suffolk where it is said that Anne Boleyn requested
her
heart be buried after her death.
Anne’s uncle, Sir Phillip Calthorpe who had married Anne’s aunt, owned the original Tudor mansion. The legend goes
that
Anne Boleyn spent time here as a child and before her execution was heard to say that the happiest
days of her life were spent at the Hall.
In c. 1837-38, during renovations, a heart-shaped tin casket containing dust was discovered in the chancel wall.
It was reburied beneath the organ with a small plaque marking the spot and relating that after her execution at
the Tower of London on May 19 1536, Anne’s heart was buried in the church by her uncle, Sir Phillip Parker of
Erwarton Hall.
Historian Alison Weir believes the story to be highly unlikely ‘since heart burial had gone out of fashion in
England by the
end of the fourteenth century’ (Pg. 323). She goes on to say that the uncle in question was in fact
Sir Phillip Calthorpe of Erwarton,
who was married to Amy (or Amata) Boleyn, Anne’s aunt.
"
