William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is often considered to be the greatest playwright and poet of all time. He remains the most famous resident of Stratford-upon-Avon, and the best way to visit the town's Shakespeare-related tourist attractions is by buying a four-way ticket, which allows you entry to:-
Shakespeare's Birthplace
Shakespeare's New Place
Shakespeare's Schoolroom
Anne Hathaway's Cottage
Tickets cost £40 for adults, £34 for concessions and £20 for children (family tickets are also available). This might seem a lot to shell out, but when you consider that entrance to Shakespeare's Birthplace alone costs £27 at the door (£25 when pre-booked online) then it's good value for money.
Shakespeare's New Place was actually the third Bard-related tourist attraction we saw. It's a magnificent garden that sits on the site of his house.
In a town like Stratford-upon-Avon the walk to the destination is as important as the destination itself, as there are many historical buildings for you to feast your eyes upon. There are also interesting quirks, such as this domino sign of fashion shop Domino Style.
The Garrick Inn is reputedly the oldest pub in the town. Whilst the exact date of construction is unknown, it is considered to be 1596, with parts dating back to the 14th century.
I loved the Hathaway Tea Rooms sign hanging from another quaint building. It claims to be the oldest tea rooms in town, dating from 1931.
The Rose and Crown pub is early 17th-century, with early 20th-century frontage (although it's another place that claims to date from 1596- is some kind of competition going on?) It's down Sheep Street, where many pubs and restaurants are situated.
Over the road is The Golden Bee, a Wetherspoon pub. For many years this was a dentist's surgery. Next to that is Tudor World Museum; the town's oldest lived-in building. It's 16th-century, with foundations dating from 1196.
Just past Shakespeare's New Place is the Guild Chapel, which dates from at least 1269, with major repairs undertaken over time, including in the late 20th-century. More about this chapel later...
Standing in Shakespeare's New Place overlooking Nash's House, which dates from around 1600. Although it's now the property of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, we were not able to go inside.
Surrounding the well is the Golden Garden, containing pennants representing Shakespeare's plays (38 in all).
Can you see my reflection down the well?
There are modern sculptures in the garden, and this represents a Tudor strong box (these were also sometimes referred to as an Armada chest).
Standing on the site of Shakespeare's parlour.
This sculpture dates from 2016, and was commissioned to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. It's a globe called The Terrestrial Sphere, and it represents how the Tudors viewed their country as being the epicentre of the world.
This also dates from 2016, and was created by the same silversmiths. It's called The Silver Ship, and was inspired by Shakespeare play The Tempest.
I believe this is part of the same sculpture, with the Hornbeam Circle behind it. Shakespeare's house would have been large; with 10 hearths and between 20 and 30 rooms. It had a courtyard and a late-medieval hall.
The Hornbeam Circle marks the spot of the original hall, and Shakespeare undertook alterations to his property. He re-built the frontage and added a long gallery- used as a place to entertain and to display objects of art.
His Mind's Eye is a bronze hawthorn tree and sphere sculpture. It also dates from 2016, and it's designed to look like an eye when viewed from above, so technically speaking I am standing on an eyeball!
Shakespeare bought New Place in 1597.This current Knot Garden was completed in 1919-20, and consists of four beds, or "knots" based on illustrations found in gardening books of Shakespeare's time.
The pergola, and New Place was Shakespeare's final place of residence in Stratford-upon-Avon, and he died here in 1616.
A pensive SuperDean sitting in the pergola. The house left the Shakespeare family after the death of his daughter, Elizabeth, in 1670. Shakespeare's direct bloodline ended, as she had no surviving heirs.
The central apex of the pergola. In 1702 New Place's owner, John Clopton, had the house demolished, building a replacement. That too was demolished, by its owner, vicar Francis Gastrell, in 1759.
The four knots are an interweaving design of herbs and flowers, with a trellis-work separating this garden from the Great Garden.
Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust acquired New Place and Nash's House in 1876.
I'm not sure why his initials have been flipped in this garden path centrepiece, though.
Only the foundations of New Place remain, and it stood on extensive grounds, with Shakespeare's deeds mentioning two gardens and two orchards. Here we are walking into the Great Garden and I love the topiary hedges. There is a leafy nook with a seat inside further along...
Staring over the lawn, and renowned horticulturalist Ellen Willmott assisted with the designing and landscaping of the garden between 1918-1922.
Incidentally, I've blogged about Warley Place Nature Reserve in Essex, and these gardens once belonged to Ellen Willmott. Link:-
I've vlogged about Warley Place Nature Reserve, too. Link:-
Modern bronze sculptures representing Shakespeare's plays and characters abound in this garden.
Macbeth
This old tree is being propped up, and a sign warns you not to shake its branches...
The Winter's Tale
This is an original column salvaged from the Market Hall, which was totally remodelled in 1871. The building survives and is now the Town Hall.
King Lear
This mulberry tree is believed to be propagated from a cutting taken from a tree planted by Shakespeare...
Although we do not know whether Shakespeare was a keen gardener or not, he certainly possessed horticultural knowledge- around 175 different plants and flowers are referenced throughout his plays and poetry. Henry IV Part I and Henry IV Part II
Flowers have meanings and are used to represent emotion; such as rosemary for remembrance, pansies for thoughts and nostalgia and roses for love, passion and romance. Julius Caesar
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Hamlet
The Tempest
The Greenwood Tree is inspired by As You Like It, and is another 2016 commission.
We finished our visit then popped over the lane and into Guild Chapel. Parts of its 13th-century structure have survived.
Beautiful stained glass...
The aisle and the organ.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Shakespeare's New Place, and if I lived or worked locally then I'd buy a yearly pass and frequently pop in there and eat my lunch on one of the benches!
TTFN,
Miss Elaineous
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