An American couple have made a special trip from Virginia in the USA to see a moated country house in Norfolk which has links to their family.
Aubrey and Betty Shelton fulfilled a life-long dream by visiting Shelton Hall, on the outskirts of Shelton, which was once home to their ancestors.
Mr Shelton began researching his ancestry in 1985 and discovered he was descended from the Sheltons who were at one time part of Henry VIII’s court when he was married to Anne Boleyn.
Anne Boleyn’s aunt – also called Anne – was married to John Shelton of Shelton Hall and the couple were chosen by Henry VIII to be guardians to Princess Mary, his daughter by his first wife Katharine of Aragon, and Princess Elizabeth, his daughter by Anne Boleyn, who went on to become Queen Elizabeth I.
The Grade II-listed hall which stands on the site today dates back to the early 17th Century and replaced an earlier medieval mansion which was destroyed by fire. The earlier building would have been home to the royal children.
Both the princesses attended the nearby local church when they were young.
The country house, which has been beautifully restored, has eight bedrooms and stands in five acres of grounds, which are also moated.
James Bedford, from Bedfords, said: “This marked such a historic trip for Mr and Mrs Shelton who were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. It was their first visit to the UK and it has been very humbling to help Mr Shelton achieve a life goal.
“His relatives were some of the first to arrive in Jamestown, Virginia, in the early 17th Century which was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.”
After a long journey, Mr Shelton was delighted to be able to visit Shelton Hall. He said:“It was real good to walk on the ground that our ancestors walked on.”
The current Sky TV drama Jamestown is focused on this period in history and the challenges faced by the early settlers.
Mr Shelton’s relatives were shipwrecked in Bermuda during their long voyage from the UK and had to repair the damage before successfully continuing to Virginia where they settled.
• Shelton Hall is on the market with Bedfords on 01284 769999 with a guide price of £1.15m.
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