THE
P RTAL
May 2017
Page 12
A Tudor Mass sung
in Hampshire
Eliza Trebelcock visits The Vyne at Basingstoke
I t was
a lovely day, and the place was full of primary school children, their parents and grandparents.
The youngsters were well behaved and clearly enjoying themselves.
The Vyne is a Tudor house, not far from Basingstoke, project to repair the mansion’s leaking roof and
in Hampshire. Now in the hands of the National Trust, crumbling chimneys. Much of the roof ’s structure is
in the 16th century it was owned by William Sandys, 500 years old.
Henry VIII’s Lord Chamberlain. Originally built in
Being on the top of the Palace is a wonderful
the 1520s.
experience, even if you are not happy with heights.
The Vyne was once a great Tudor ‘powerhouse’, The Tudor roof is in urgent need of repair as is the
comparable in size and grandeur to the Base Court of Victorian build and restoration. All is quite safe, and
Hampton Court Palace. It later became a family home, even “Health and Safety” are happy. To see the rafters
cherished by the Chute family for more than 350 years. and their Tudor and Victorian construction is just
beautiful. One can also see how previous generations
I was met and shown around by the house and re-used wood from an old staircase in the roof.
collections manager Helen Sanderson. T he P ortal
had been invited to a visit for two reasons. Firstly
The second reason for my invitation was that during
because the upper floors are being restored, but instead October 1535, Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn visited
of closing the house for two years or more, access The Vyne on their Progress through the country. We
to the works is allowed to the public via a specially are told that they were “merry” at The Vyne. But within
constructed walkway and a lift.
six months, Anne would be executed for adultery,
probably unjustly.
The opportunity to present The Vyne’s past in
an exciting new light comes at a time when the
Whilst at The Vyne, Henry attended at least one Mass
conservation charity is undertaking a £5.4 million of Our Lady and in all probability, more than just one.