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There is a special reason why this great masterpiece was hung in Charleville castle for 200 years. This reason remains lost to us. We found the trail that leads to that secret explanation but have not so far found incontestable proof. The masterpiece of King Henry the 8th at the baptism of the future Queen Elizabeth the 1st is one that can not be forgotten.  

As the years passed by, the castle was unfortunately subjected to various acts of vandalism and Charleville Castle slowly became a derelict castle.  But as luck would have it, when the year 1970 came around, a gentleman by the name of Graham Gordon found his way into castle and upon entering, came across the masterpiece of King Henry the 8th.  

Already feeling sypmathy for the condition of the castle, Gordon was determined to save the painting, and after correspondence with the castle's current owner, he was granted permisson to remove the painting.

Gordon had his own views from when he first came across the painting, and we at Charleville Castle have been fortunate enough to have direct quotes of Gordon describing the painting:

David Hicks the author of a book that is being published by Collins Press in September 2012 and features Charleville Forest Castle visited the castle in October 2011 and spoke to Dudley Stewart and shared his research with him about the Boydell painting fully restored at the Beaverbrook Museum in Canada.

This was excellent and more information on David's book can be found at http://www.collinspress.ie/irish-country-houses.html

King Henry Painting Value

NOTES ON UNIQUENESS AND VALUATION CONSIDERATIONS

• Shakespeare's play, KING HENRY VIII, is accepted amongst most scholars as his last play. It is generally thought to be written in 1612 and perhaps partially written by John Fletcher. It was performing at the Globe theatre when the theatre burned down in 1613. 
• The Peters rendering of Henry VIII, Act V, Scene 4, is the most transforming historical moment of all the Shakespeare's plays. For the actual portrait of Henry, Peters used the Holbein original life portrait of Henry, so the likeness is remarkably accurate.. 
• It represents the last Scene in the last Act of the play. The climax. A towering moment when the infant Elizabeth is recognized and baptized.  She is Henry’s daughter and to become the future famous Elizabeth, Queen of England, in that time so well known now as the "Elizabethan Age". 
• The painting depicts the Archbishop of Canterbury at a hugely important time when Henry VIII was in conflict with Rome over the issues of divorce and was casting away Roman Catholic power from Britain. 
• Archbishop Cranmer and The Lord Mayor of London are there along with the Duke of Norfolk with his Marshal’s staff, the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk , the Marchioness of Dorset, God Mothers and Aldermen. 
• It represents more than any other painting of the Boydell Shakespeare the core purpose of Alderman Boydell's mission . . . to establish a School of Historical Painting and advance the art towards maturity. 
• None of the other Shakespeare plays of the historic Kings of England come close to the monumental changes wrought by Henry VIII. Henry stands alone as that towering monarch widely known and written of through history down until today when the TV series "The Tudors" shines further light and huge interest onto this powerful and demanding King, quite above and beyond the other Henrys or Richards of British history. This Act of this Play is that pivotal moment of British history like no other. 
• The Peters Henry VIII, Act V, scene 4, is about the largest of all the Boydell Shakespeare paintings. 
• Its value cannot be judged simply as a 'Peters" painting. It is a unique Boydell Shakespeare painting in the light of its monumental historical relevance.

Gordon's viewpoint on the masterpiece brings such a unique vision, we can only hope it will inspire others to take part in our goal of bringing King Henry the 8th back to Charleville Castle!

Our appearance on RTÉ!

 http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2012/0709/1news.html#

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Here is a picture from 1970 showing Peters Painting hanging in the dining room

We are pleased to welcome you on the Charleville Castle Volunteer and Friends website. 

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This page is dedicated to our Volunteers and friends of the casle and it's purpose is to communicate with them on our projects, our aims, ambitions and dreams.  

All ideas are taken on board and most are brought to fruition because, without our volunteers, we would not survive.  

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Charleville Castle stands in Tullamore, the largest and principal town in Co. Offaly, which lies near the centre of Ireland.
At Charleville Castle we do everything we can to be part of the community's life, that is why we are always delighted to open our doors during local events.

We welcome RAHAN Comhaltas Seisiun all throught the summer. Performers offer us evenings of traditional Irish music, song, dance and storytelling within the Gallery of Charleville Castle.

RAHAN Comhaltas Seisiun are held every Tuesday night, from 9pm to 11pm.

If you are interested in volunteering, supporting or finding out more about our activities, please register to volunteer or subscribe to our mailing list.

We always have projects going on at Charleville Castle so if you have some time and would like to help out in the restoration, let us know!

And then.... There's always the ghosts!!