Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon (must see)

"A Mecca for all lovers of literature." This must be true, judging by all the "lovers of literature" signatures etched into the windows of the house on Henley Street. Centuries after William Shakespeare left the planet, his admirers have been coming here to say hello. Among those who left their names over the years were the likes of Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, Thomas Carlyle, Lord Byron, Lord Tennyson, John Keats, and last but not least, William Thackeray.

Here lived the Master of the English Language. What was it like, the house he grew up in? Was it rich, poor, or middle class?

While it may appear as a very simple house today, back in Shakespeare's time it would have been thought a large dwelling. People were shorter, doors were lower, and rooms were smaller. The house was effectively divided into two parts. One was for business and the other for living.

William Shakespeare was born here in 1564. His father, John, was a glove maker and a dealer in leather and wool. This half-timbered house was constructed of wattle and daub around a timber frame. The fireplaces are of brick and stone, and the ground floor is of flagstone.

William Shakespeare eventually inherited the place but then moved with his family to New Place on Chapel Street. Over the years, the Henley Street property passed to other owners, and by the 1800s, it had fallen into a distressed state. In 1846, it was put up for sale. Certain P.T. Barnum of circus fame tried to buy it and ship it "brick by brick" to the USA.

Not having any of that, the Shakespeare Birthplace Committee became the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust by an Act of Parliament and stepped in to save the day. The Trust bought the property and restored it to its original state.

Next to the Birthplace is the Shakespeare Centre, a modern building which houses the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. The Centre contains a library and a collection of Shakespeare paraphernalia. It also provides admission to the Birthplace itself.

Tips:
Don't worry about driving, parking, etc. There is a tram in Stratford (and a good one at that), and most places to be seen here are within walking distance of each other.