Strolling through Stratford with Shakespeare (ep 31)

Let’s take an imaginary trip to see the Birthplace, Anne
Hathaway’s Cottage, farmland, Tudor schoolrooms, Dr. Hall’s house
and medicinal garden, Tudor streets, Holy Trinity Church, a
world-class theatre, and swans on the river. In other words,
let’s go strolling through Stratford with Shakespeare!

As you get off the train at the Stratford Station, you can wander
through the city, seeing the Town Square, Henley Street, High
Street, and more on your way towards the River Avon and the
Visitor Information center. You get maps and buy tickets there,
and the guides can help you plan your day. I’m going to take you
through just some highlights of the wonders of Stratford by
following the map—of course, you could easily plan different
routes, as the town is easily walkable!

Along the River you’ll also find the world-famous Royal
Shakespeare Company. The RSC typically welcomes more than a
million visitors each year. The RSC is the only theatre company
with its own armory right on-site; they produce breastplates,
gauntlets, and all kinds of weapons for use in productions and
education activities. The RSC runs three theatres: The Royal
Shakespeare Theatre and the Swan Theatre, which share a building
next to the River, and The Other Place, which is a short walk
away.

Continue your walk along the River, and you’ll come to Holy
Trinity Church. The church holds many treasures for its visitors
including the Thomas Becket chapel; the Crossing; the Altar,
which features a medieval stone altar slab; a King James Bible
published in 1611 that is chained in place to prevent it being
stolen; and, of course, Shakespeare.

This is the church where Shakespeare’s family worshipped. He was
baptized here on 26 April 1564. It’s very likely he worshipped
here with his family as a child and a young man, and that he
returned to this church when he retired to Stratford after his
life in London. Finally, Shakespeare was buried here on 25 April
1616, after his death on 23 April. It’s very likely he worshipped
here with his family as a child and a young man, and that he
returned to this church when he retired to Stratford after his
life in London. And, of course, Shakespeare was buried here on 25
April 1616, after his death on 23 April. 

Getting to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage takes a mile walk, and it's
definitely worth it. The cottage is a 12-room farmhouse where
Anne lived with her family as a child. There are some items in
the Cottage that will take you right back in time. The Hathaway
Bed was made between 1580 and 1650. The Tester Bed is dated to
the late 1500s, so it is likely associated with Anne’s family. In
fact, it would certainly have been known to Anne while she lived
there. The cottage is surrounded by nine acres of woodland,
orchards, and gardens. You can take a woodland walk, visit the
Shakespeare arboretum, and relax in a willow cabin while you
listen to Shakespeare’s sonnets. 

Head to Henley Street and you'll find Shakespeare’s Birthplace.
This is a true highlight of your day, as you’ll be able to get up
close and personal with William Shakespeare and his family. John
Shakespeare lived and worked in this house for 50 years. He
married Mary Arden and they had eight children there. In 1568,
John became Mayor of Stratford, a status that enabled his son to
attend the King Edward VI school and also brought troops of
traveling players to his home so he could approve their
performances before they played in the Town Square. It’s easy to
imagine young Will meeting actors and learning about play-making
while living there. 

Stratford offers the opportunity to walk in Shakespeare’s
footsteps, to get close to rare objects from his lifetime, and to
explore the ways Shakespeare continues to shape our lives today.


History shows us what's possible.