The houses of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust around Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

These photos mostly taken in the Warwickshire District of Stratford-on-Avon between 2009 and 2018. Most are in Stratford-upon-Avon including Shakespeare's Birthplace (on Henley Street), Nash's House & New Place (Chapel Street), and Hall's Croft (Old Town). Mary Arden's House is in Wilmcote. Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Shottery. 

Let's get the train down to Shakepeare's County, Warwickshire for a tour of the houses belonging now to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Mainly just the exteriors of photos I took between 2009 and 2018. Three properties to see in Stratford-upon-Avon, which includes Shakespeare's Birthplace on Henley Street, Nash's House & New Place on Chapel Street, and Hall's Croft in Old Town. Nearby in Shottery is Anne Hathaway's Cottage. While in the village of Wilmcote is Mary Arden's House.

 

Shakespeare's Birthplace - Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare's Birthplace is a restored 16th century half timbered house located in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. It is believed that William Shakespeare was born here in 1564 and spent his childhood years. It's now a small museum, open to the public and ran and managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. The ownership of the house after Shakespeare's death fell to his eldest daughter Susanna. In 1649 it passed to her only daughter Elizabeth. By 1670 to John Hart. It remained in the ownership of the Hart's until 1806, when it was sold to a butcher, Thomas Court. There was interest in the property in the middle of the 19th century, which led to the formation of the Shakespeare Birthday Committee by a private Act of Parliament.

These views were from April 2009, when I began taking photos around Stratford-upon-Avon. The entrance to the museum would be further to the left in the Shakespeare Visitor Centre which opened in 1964 on Shakespeare's 400th birthday.

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The view of the house to the right. There was railings and flower pots outside at the time. There maybe plans to move these further onto Henley Street, to prevent visitors pinching tiles or bits of wood.

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The best view of the house. There is also a garden round the back. You would find many of the tourists in Stratford-upon-Avon up here on Henley Street, during the busy periods of the year. When I was last on this street it was a bit quieter than usual, but was also roadworks outside of the house.

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Nash's House & New Place - Chapel Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

Nash's House is on Chapel Street, and was the home of Thomas Nash. The house was built around 1600. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust bought this and the site of New Place in 1876. Nash was married to Elizabeth Hall, who was the granddaughter of William Shakespeare.

This photo of Nash's House was taken in April 2009 from Chapel Street.

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Next to Nash's House was New Place. It was the final residence of William Shakespeare who died here in 1616. The house no longer exists but the site is managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. There had been a house on the corner site of Chapel Street and Chapel Lane since about 1483, having been built for Sir Hugh Clopton. The Clopton family owned it throughout most of the 16th century. It was sold to Shakespeare in 1597, but he only moved in around 1610. After his death, ownership was by his daughter Susanna, then to her daughter Elizabeth who had married Thomas Nash (he owned the house next door).

This view from April 2009, the site of the lost house (on the right is now gardens).

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This was the view of the New Place site during January 2013. There had been a Time Team archeological dig in the gardens here. This was shortly before the programme to renovate the gardens. This view from Chapel Street.

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This view of the hedges from Chapel Lane during April 2016. This visit to Stratford-upon-Avon was during the 400th anniversary celebrations of Shakespeare's death (and his 452nd birthday on the same day). After watching the parade, I had another look around the town. The gardens were more or less complete by this point. The site was reopened in the Spring of 2016.

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By the time of my next visit, in February 2018, Nash's House & New Place had been reopened for a few years. There was a new entrance to the gardens from Chapel Street. Tickets would be a bit pricey, unless you get a combo ticket for all Shakespeare properties, or an online discount.

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Hall's Croft - Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon

Hall's Croft was the home of William Shakespeare's daughter Susanna Hall and her husband Dr John Hall whom she married in 1607. He was the General Practioner of the Town from 1600 until his death in 1635. The house dates from the early 16th century. John and Susanna later moved to New Place after the death of William Shakespeare (who was Susanna's father).

These views were taken during September 2010 in Old Town. First view was some people in the way of the house, probably visitors going to see the house. One lady having a look through a gap in the gate to the garden.

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I waited for a bit before taking another photo, this time without anyone in the way. The house is close to the River Avon and Holy Trinity Church (where members of the Shakespeare family are buried).

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A side view of the house, close to the entrance.

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Anne Hathaway's Cottage - Shottery, Stratford-upon-Avon

Anne Hathaway's Cottage is located in the village of Shottery, a short walk away from Stratford-upon-Avon. The farmhouse was where Anne Hathaway the wife of William Shakespeare, lived during her childhood. The earliest parts of the house dates to the 15th century, the higher part from the 17th century. The house was known as Hewlands Farm during Shakespeare's lifetime. When Anne's father passed away, the cottage was owned by her brother Bartholomew, which passed down the Hathaway family until 1846. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust acquired it in 1892. A fire badly damaged it in 1969 but it was later restored by the Trust. It is now open to the public as a museum.

At the time during my September 2010 visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, I followed signs down a path towards Shottery where I found the house.

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Side view of the house with the garden to the left.

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The right side of the house from Cottage Lane.

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This view of the house a bit hard to see behind the trees, but you can see the thatched roof above. After this I followed the path back into Stratford-upon-Avon. The City Sightseeing bus for Stratford-upon-Avon also goes by here.

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Mary Arden's House & Farm - Wilmcote

Mary Arden's Farm is located in the Warwickshire village of Wilmcote. The farmhouse was the home of Mary Shakespeare, who was the mother of William Shakespeare. The property is also known as Mary Arden's House. But there is some confusion here as there is actually two houses. This building (seen on my visit of February 2013) was actually Palmer's Farmhouse. Which was owned by Adam Palmer in the 16th century. You can get the train here on the Shakespeare line from Birmingham, getting off at Wilmcote, and the houses are a short walk away.

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Another view of Palmer's House. When the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust bought it in 1930, they wrongly assumed that it was Mary Arden's House. It was restored to the Tudor style. It dates to the late 16th century. Although a timber-framed cross-wing section dates to about 1569. The house is located on what is now called Station Road. The Stratford-on-Avon Canal also passed these properties close by.

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This farmhouse is the actual Mary Arden's House. Also known as Glebe Farm. It dates to the early 16th century. Seen from Aston Cantlow Road.

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Mary Arden's Farm is now a "working Tudor farm". Although the property is closed over the Winter period. Many of the farm buildings date to the 18th and 19th centuries.

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One more view of Palmer's Farm, as I headed back to catch the train back to Birmingham from Wilmcote.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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