My name is Dr Owen Emmerson. I am a social and cultural historian, author of three books, and contributor to a number of television documentaries. I work as Castle Historian and Assistant Curator at the stunning Hever Castle in Kent where I have co-curated three exhibitions. I am also the co-founder of, and a primary contributor to, Hever Castle’s online subscription service, Inside Hever Castle.

My first book, co-authored with the historian Claire Ridgway, is entitled ‘The Boleyns of Hever Castle’. My second book, co-authored with the historian Kate McCaffrey, is entitled ‘Becoming Anne: Connections, Culture, Court’. My latest book, co-authored with historian Kate McCaffrey and Curator Alison Palmer is entitled ‘Catherine and Anne: Queens, Rivals, Mothers’ and will be published in February 2023. I have written for BBC HistoryExtra, The Daily Mirror, Jacobin, The Telegraph, The Express, and Radio Times.

I have appeared in a number of documentaries about the Tudor era, including “Blood, Sex, and Royalty: Anne Boleyn” (Netflix, 2022); “The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family” (BBC2, 2021); “Who Do You Think You Are? Josh Widdicombe” (BBC1, 2021); “Walking Tudor England” (C5, 2021); “Lady Rochford” (C5, 2021); “Henry VIII and the King’s Men” (Smithsonian, 2020). You can find find out more about my television work and podcasts that I have contributed to on my media page. You can watch my showreel below!

Education

I completed my BA, MA, and my doctoral research at the University of Sussex where I also co-organised the Seen But Not Heard conference in 2017. Throughout my time at Sussex, I volunteered and then worked at the Mass Observation Archive.

Awards

2015 – CHASE/ AHRC doctoral funding.

2014 – Beryl Williams History Prize for the best MA History dissertation.

2013 – Cate Haste MA scholarship.

2011 – Rose Prize for highest ranking History finalist.                    

2011 – John Lowerson Prize for best History dissertation