Short answers, pulled from the story.
Hever Castle was originally built in 1270 by James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele. The oldest working portcullis in England still guards the gatehouse from this period, which has witnessed nearly eight centuries of English history.
Thomas Boleyn and his wife Lady Elizabeth Howard lived at Hever Castle with their children George, Mary, and Anne. Anne spent her early youth at the castle until 1513 when she was sent to the Habsburg Netherlands to receive an education at the court of the Archduchess Margaret.
King Henry VIII bestowed Hever Castle upon Anne of Cleves in 1540 as part of the settlement following the annulment of their marriage. This event marked the end of the Boleyn family's direct ownership of the property.
William Waldorf Astor acquired the castle in 1903 and completed a comprehensive restoration that included the addition of the Tudor village and the creation of the Italian Garden. He transformed the castle from a decaying ruin into a family residence and a showcase of his wealth and taste.
Hever Castle has been Grade I listed since the 10th of September 1954. This designation came after the addition of the Tudor village and the completion of Astor's restoration efforts.
The grounds of Hever Castle feature a hedge maze of yew trees planted in 1904 and a water maze opened in 1999. The grounds also include a children's adventure playground with a tower maze that is currently undergoing reconstruction.