Historic home of Henry VIII

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

A castle fit for a king: Historic home once owned by Henry VIII and used for trysts with his mistresses goes up for sale for £2.6million

Henry VIII seized stunning Westenhanger Manor, near Folkestone in Kent, in 1523 from Sir Edward Poynings, who had served as a diplomat under Henry VII. It remained a royal palace until 1581 when Queen Elizabeth I gave it to her Collector of Customs, Thomas Smythe. In recent years the Grade I listed home, regarded as one of Kent's greatest historical houses, became little more than a ruin. But the current owners, the Forge family, have spent the past 16 years setting about saving Westenhanger Manor. Graham Forge, 75, who owns the property, said: 'Henry VIII effectively used Westenhanger as his private B&B when visiting the south of England on state affairs. 'He certainly would never have brought any of his wives here but is known to have taken his mistresses to the house instead

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