Shakespeare's birthplace - house owned by his parents, John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. Shakespeare was baptised on 26 April 1564 but it is believed he was born a day or two before his baptism. Jasmin reckons he was born on 24 April 1564 (same birthday as her!).
Photos inside Shakespeare's house - courtesy of Garry's dad. Ba and Mum visited the same place with their friends two weeks ago. This is a photo of a reconstruction of what John Shakespeare's dining room would have looked like back in the 1500s.
Photos inside Shakespeare's house - courtesy of Garry's dad. Ba and Mum visited the same place with their friends two weeks ago. This is a photo of a reconstruction of what John Shakespeare's dining room would have looked like back in the 1500s.
We were told that the man of the household often sat in the chair at one end of the dining board, hence the expression "chairman of the board". We learnt that many other phrases also came about from other basic English household items. For example, some decorative wooden tables back then were made of a piece of wooden board sitting loosely on top of a supporting base and if an extra bed was needed, the wooden board would be turned over to be used as a bed, hence the expression "to turn the table on you". Other phrases: "to give you the cold shoulder" (back then, favoured guests were offered warm ham but if you weren't a favoured guest, you would be given cold ham, hence the "cold shoulder" expression).
Shakespeare's birthroom.
Servant's room. See the rope around the wooden frame (the rope acts as the equivalent of a slat today). The tighter the rope, the more comfortable the bed. Hence the expression "Good night, sleep tight!".
Back garden of Shakespeare's birthplace.
River Avon
The building with the American flag flying at the top is Harvard's House, so named because it is owned by Harvard University. The grandparents of John Harvard (founder of Harvard University) previously lived in the building. John Harvard studied at Cambridge University but migrated to "New England" (America) to pursue religious freedom and started "Cambridge New England" (renamed as Harvard). The house next to Harvard's House with the pretty pattern on it is Garrick's Inn, the oldest pub in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Nash's House and New Place - the former home of Elizabeth Hall, Shakespeare's granddaughter, and her first husband, Thomas Nash. The adjacent gardens contain the bare foundation of New Place, Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway's last residence (the second largest house back then in Stratford), which was demolished by its subsequent owner, Reverend Gastrell. The guide told us that Shakespeare was not only a brilliant playwright, he was a shrewd businessman. He worked himself up from a lowly actor to a scriptwriter and eventually became a shareholder of the London theatre, getting a cut of the theatre profits. When he returned to Stratford from London, he was a very well-off man and succeeded in having a coat-of-arms granted to his father.
The building with the American flag flying at the top is Harvard's House, so named because it is owned by Harvard University. The grandparents of John Harvard (founder of Harvard University) previously lived in the building. John Harvard studied at Cambridge University but migrated to "New England" (America) to pursue religious freedom and started "Cambridge New England" (renamed as Harvard). The house next to Harvard's House with the pretty pattern on it is Garrick's Inn, the oldest pub in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Nash's House and New Place - the former home of Elizabeth Hall, Shakespeare's granddaughter, and her first husband, Thomas Nash. The adjacent gardens contain the bare foundation of New Place, Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway's last residence (the second largest house back then in Stratford), which was demolished by its subsequent owner, Reverend Gastrell. The guide told us that Shakespeare was not only a brilliant playwright, he was a shrewd businessman. He worked himself up from a lowly actor to a scriptwriter and eventually became a shareholder of the London theatre, getting a cut of the theatre profits. When he returned to Stratford from London, he was a very well-off man and succeeded in having a coat-of-arms granted to his father.
Gardens at Nash's House.
The Knotted Gardens at Nash's House - knotted gardens in those days were signs of great wealth, only the rich could afford gardens like that.
The Great Garden, adjacent to Nash's House.
Shakespeare hotel - a popular hotel in the town centre.
Shakespeare hotel - a popular hotel in the town centre.
Guild Chapel in the left hand corner and the adjoining building with the multi-timber facade is King Edward VI Grammar School, where it is believed Shakespeare was educated.
Hall's Croft, previous home of Shakespeare's eldest daughter, Susanna Hall, and her doctor husband, John Hall. Susanna must have been Shakespeare's favourite daughter. She was left with the bulk of his assets when he died. His wife was only given the second best bed in their marital home.
Hall's Croft, previous home of Shakespeare's eldest daughter, Susanna Hall, and her doctor husband, John Hall. Susanna must have been Shakespeare's favourite daughter. She was left with the bulk of his assets when he died. His wife was only given the second best bed in their marital home.
Holy Trinity Church - where Shakespeare and his wife are buried in the chancel.
Bust of William Shakespeare
Graves from left to right: Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare (with a blue outline), Thomas Nash, John Hall and Susanna Hall.
Grave of Shakespeare.
Main aisle of Holy Trinity Church
Main aisle of Holy Trinity Church
My favourite house - Anne Hathaway's family home. I love the cute looking thatched roofs made out of wheat. The garden is very pretty too.
Jas adds her touch to the picture with the wooden staircase. One of my favourite shots!
Cute looking thatched roofs
Sneaked a picture of somebody's house. We were walking through Straford's residential area where there were a few of these cute traditional Tudor houses.
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