HF 6 Kate McCaffrey and Dr Owen Emmerson
Kate McCaffrey and Dr Owen Emmerson: Holbein’s Hidden Gem: Rediscovering Thomas Cromwell’s Book of Hours
Wed 21 Aug 8pm Two Sisters’ Theatre
All Ticket Prices Below
In a discovery branded by Dr Tracy Borman as the most exciting Thomas Cromwell finding ‘in a generation’, historians Kate McCaffrey and Dr Owen Emmerson chart their discovery of a Book of Hours that once belonged to Thomas Cromwell, King Henry VIII’s Chief Minister. Hidden in plain sight, the book is one of the only extant objects captured in a Tudor portrait, for it features in Hans Holbein the Younger’s celebrated painting of Cromwell. Discover how the book was identified, which celebrated goldsmith completed the exquisite extant binding, and how the book travelled from Cromwell’s possession to the Wren Library, Trinity College, Cambridge.
Kate McCaffrey is the Castle Historian and Assistant Curator at Hever Castle in Kent. Her MA thesis in 2020 with the University of Kent uncovered ground-breaking new evidence about Anne Boleyn’s printed Book of Hours, gaining national and international press attention. She has co-curated two exhibitions at Hever Castle, written three books (including most recently ‘Holbein’s Hidden Gem: Rediscovering Thomas Cromwell’s Lost Book of Hours’ with Dr Owen Emmerson), and is currently heading a re-interpretation project of Hever Castle which will see its most significant change in a generation. She has written for the TLS and BBC History, appeared on several documentaries, television shows and podcasts and is pursuing her exciting and fruitful research into early sixteenth-century Books of Hours.
Dr Owen Emmerson is a social and cultural historian, broadcaster, and author of four books. His most recent book, entitled ‘Holbein’s Hidden Gem: Rediscovering Thomas Cromwell’s Lost Book’ was published in 2023. It tells the story of the ground-breaking discovery made by Kate McCaffrey and Emmerson of the Book of Hours depicted in Hans Holbein’s painting of Thomas Cromwell. Dr Tracy Borman dubbed their efforts as ‘the most exciting Thomas Cromwell discovery in a generation – if not more’. He has appeared in seventeen documentaries about the Tudor era including ‘The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family’ (BBC, 2021) and ‘Blood, Sex and Royalty: Anne Boleyn’ (Netflix, 2022). He is currently writing a full history of Hever Castle, amongst other projects, and lives with his three cats in Sussex.
If you wish to purchase the discounted, multiple show ticket offers please call the box office 07379 488 477 or email boxoffice@heverfestival.co.uk.
| Allocated Standard Seating (One Talk) | £21.70 |
| Allocated Covered Seating (Two Talks on the Same Day) | £35.90 |
| Allocated Covered Seating (All Talks) | £101.70 |
| Festival Friends & Hever Castle, Hever Golf and Wellbeing Club Members Allocated Covered Seating (One Talk) | £19.70 |
| Festival Friends & Hever Castle, Hever Golf and Wellbeing Club Members Allocated Covered Seating (Two Talks on the Same Day) | £35.90 |
| *Groups, over 20 tickets Allocated Covered Seating (One Talk) | £19.70 |
| *Groups, over 20 tickets Allocated Covered Seating (Two Talks on the Same Day) | £35.70 |
| Joint Theatre and Castle Garden entry adult Allocated Covered Seating (One Talk) | £36.40 |
| Joint Theatre and Castle Garden entry adult Allocated Covered Seating (Two Talks on the Same Day) | £50.60 |
| Joint Theatre and Castle Garden entry child Allocated Covered Seating (one Talk) | £30.90 |
| Joint Theatre and Castle Garden entry child Allocated Covered Seating (Two Talks on the Same Day) | £45.10 |
Two Sisters’ Theatre
Our main theatre, located on the glorious Two Sisters’ Lawn has allocated, covered seating. Lawn areas where you can bring your own seats, beanbags, rugs etc. are available for selected performances only.
Please check our access page for further information.
The Theatre Bar will be open on the theatre lawn before the show and during the interval for hot and cold, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, ice cream and snacks.
Freshly made crêpes will also be available. Savoury and sweet options, before evening shows only. Here is the menu.
Pre-Theatre suppers in the Guthrie Pavilion are available before this performance.
Here is the menu.
Please book your theatre tickets first, then follow this link to reserve your table.
Bookings start from 6pm, we recommend arriving at least an hour before the performance starts so you don’t have to rush your meal.
PLEASE NOTE: You have made a table reservation only, you may be asked to pre-order by the catering team in advance of the date and all meals and drinks are to be paid for on the night.