Essex boasts a rich history with connections to the infamous King Henry VIII, renowned for his string of marriages. It is said that the king first encountered his ill-fated second wife Anne Boleyn at Rochford Hall, enjoyed hunting in Eastwood, and took temporary residence at the Palace of Beaulieu – also known as New Hall – in Chelmsford.
Tucked away in a peaceful Essex village just four miles from Brentwood, there’s a secluded country retreat where Henry VIII sought refuge from the bustling Royal chatter of London. His sanctuary was a dwelling known as Little Jericho in Blackmore. The name of the village means “black marsh” or swamp, and it certainly harboured its share of dark secrets back then. It was here that the king chose to hush up the birth of a child fathered with his most enduring mistress.
Legend has it that his son, Henry Fitzroy, was conceived within the walls of this house. Elizabeth “Bessie” Blount, the mother, was whisked away to Blackmore when her pregnancy could no longer be hidden, and she gave birth there in 1519, reports Essex Live.
King Henry held deep affection for this child, whom he fondly called his “worldly jewel”. Fitzroy was the only one of Henry’s illegitimate offspring to be acknowledged by the monarch.
He honoured him with the title Duke of Richmond and Somerset. However, the young Henry’s life was cut short at just 17 years old due to “consumption”.
Nestled beside the property in Blackmore was an Augustine priory, a once bustling hub of religious activity. It thrived until King Henry VIII’s enforcement of the dissolution of monasteries beginning in 1520 – a historical twist that Blackmore Parish Council has labelled as “ironic”, considering the king’s particular affection for the village.
The council commented: “He would journey in secret to stay at Little Jericho, a house within the priory grounds that he used for clandestine trysts, well away from his palaces …and wives. It led to the expression ‘Gone to Jericho’ being used as code for his adulterous absences from court.
“He also arranged for his favourite mistress Elizabeth Blount to stay at Little Jericho. It was there that she gave birth to their son, also called Henry.”
Fast forward to 2016, and the Blackmore property hit the market with an asking price of £1 million.
Estate agents Fine and Country extolled its virtues at the time, saying: “This is a truly unique and exquisite Grade II listed property with its origins dating back to circa 16th Century. The vendors have allowed the original period features to sit cohesively alongside and in conjunction with the modern day requirements of a family home.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
