Shakespeare’s birthplace
John Shakespeare – William’s father – lived and worked in the house known today as Shakespeare’s Birthplace. John married Mary Arden in about 1557 and William was born in 1564, the third of their eight children. He also spent the first five years of his marriage living here with his wife, Anne Hathaway.
This is one of those places which keeps drawing me back. Despite being really touristy, but the fact that this sixteenth century, half-timbered cottage is the actual place where Shakespeare was born and you can explore the rooms where he grew up, lived and loved is very special- and so I keep returning! And if legend be true, this would not have been possible if in 1847 Barnum, who had decided to buy the place when it was offered for sale, had dismantled it and taken it to the US to rebuild there as a visitor attraction. Fortunately, a campaign, led by Charles Dickens, raised the necessary money and The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust was established, making sure it stayed right where it should be.
The Visitors’ Centre changes slightly every time I visit, but always offers a wonderful display of objects related to Shakespeare’s life and time. Having made your way through these rooms, you leave the building and find yourself round the back of the birthplace.
Sometimes, players are at work here, re-enacting scenes from some of Shakespeare’s play. On one memorable occasion, they encouraged my son to (very reluctantly) join them! I have photographic evidence of this, but I’m not sure he would ever forgive me if I shared it!
Once inside the birthplace, visitors are welcomed in to narrow rooms, presented to represent life here during Shakespeare’s lifetime. Costumed guides are on hand to offer information and although no original furnishings survive, the pieces on show are all those produced at the time of Shakespeare’s life or modern reproductions.
On busy days, it can be quite a claustrophobic experience due to high numbers of people in such small spaces. However, I have been really lucky and have usually managed to wander happily round in my own little world, imagining and enjoying the experience of being in this house.
At the far end of the house from where you enter, there is a workshop, a reminder that, as well as being a family home for the Shakespeares and their eight children, John ran his glove-making business here and also dealt in the wool trade.
Upstairs, there are a number of rooms, including the ‘birthroom’, the room where it is believed Shakespeare was actually born. Apparently, the walls of this room used to be covered in graffiti and, although this has now been removed, the original window to the room is on display, still bearing the names of those who visited in the past, including Charles Dickens, Walter Scott and John Keats.
All too soon you find yourself outside in the garden area once more. Although giving a very sanitised version of Shakespeare’s home, I find it a wonderful place to explore, discovering a little more each time I visit.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Henley St,
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 6QW