This weekend for Natalie’s weekend coffee share I am inviting you to share a hot drink with us in Stratford on Avon. Last weekend our walking group visited Stratford on Avon and were engulfed by all things Shakespearean. It is a small market town on the edge of the Cotswolds and only twenty-eight miles from Birmingham.

Stratford on Avon‘s main claim to fame of course is that it was the birthplace of William Shakespeare. It has certainly grown rich on the association. When we visited last weekend, it was full of tourists from around the world. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust manages several of the properties which are associated with the Shakespeare family including New Place which Shakespeare bought when he was thirty-three and owned until his death in 1616 and Hall’s Croft which was owned by his daughter and son-in-law.

The Shakespeare trail

Like most tourists we began with the house where Shakespeare was born and where he probably lived with his wife Anne for a few years after their marriage. The 16th century half timbered house is one of a group of sites run by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. There is a small exhibition in the building at the side. Actors in period costume often perform scenes from Shakespearean plays in the Tudor garden.

Shakespeare’s father was a glover and one of the wealthiest men in the town. He held a variety of public offices including ale taster and mayor.

Following William Shakespeare’s life story, we visited the school which he is thought to have attended. The building is still owned by the local grammar school and our elderly guide could even remember having lessons in the schoolroom.

It is now used to give lessons to school parties and sometimes visiting walking groups. The school would have had one class of boys from seven to sixteen. Downstairs we saw part of a medieval wall painting which was only uncovered in 2016.

My favourite building was definitely Anne Hathaway’s cottage which has a large garden and orchard. I particularly liked the way they labelled the weeds with suitable Shakespearean quotes. I wonder if my neighbours would mind if I did the same with my brambles.

Anne Hathaway was born here in 1556. After her father died her brother Bartholomew inherited the cottage and remarkably 13 generations of the family lived there until it was bought by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1892.

To complete the story of Shakespeare’s life we visited Holy Trinity church where William and Anne Shakespeare are buried. We also saw the font where their three children, Suzanna and twins Hammet and Judith were baptised.

The Royal Shakespeare Company

The art deco Royal Shakespeare theatre is on the banks of the river Avon. I caught the lift to the viewing platform at the top of the 32 metre tall tower and had a great view over Stratford. The Royal Shakespeare company perform plays by Shakespeare and other dramatists and many famous actors have performed here. They also have a popular rooftop restaurant with views over the river and its famous swans.

We are now planning our next weekend away.