Last Saturday we went to visit Stratford Upon Avon, Shakespeare's hometown. We had some difficulty getting there due to a landslide that is currently blocking a stretch of railway between Leamington and Banbury. But the town was so cute it was worth all the hassle.
We were able to use coupons for a 2 for 1 deal at Shakespeare's birth site and some other historic homes in Stratford with our train ticket and a voucher they had at the train station. We started at Shakespeare's birthplace and childhood home. In the photo below you can see part of the coat of arms that William purchased for his family in 1596.
William Shakespeare's father was a wealthy merchant and a prominent member of the community. Due to his social status, men would have to acknowledge him as they passed by on the street. After William purchased the coat of arms they were pushed into a higher social status and men then had to remove their hats when they passed by on the street.
The worker who welcomed us to the house told us that there is one room in the home with the original floor so you are literally walking where Shakespeare walked.
Stratford Upon Avon had a nice mix of old and new. The town was bustling with activity from both locals and tourists.
The second house included in our pass was the Harvard House. It was built in 1596 by Thomas Rogers, the grandfather of the benefactor of Harvard University. Rogers was a successful butcher and was friends with John Shakespeare. The elaborate carvings on the outside of the building were a way to demonstrate wealth.
The final historic home included in our pass was Hall's Croft, home to William Shakespeare's daughter, Susanna, and her husband. It was fascinating to see a home that is the pinnacle of 17th century affluence and comfort.
There was beautifully carved wooden furniture, paintings, and intricate staircases throughout the home. Sadly, there are no known paintings of Susanna or her family.
After touring the historic homes we headed to Church of the Holy Trinity, where Shakespeare was baptised, worshipped, and is buried.
They were not kidding around about the very low door. I actually hit my head on this sign (not the door) on the way out.
The church had this amazing wood ceiling and beautiful organ. I am always impressed with the churches in these small towns throughout England.
To the left in the photo below you can see the monument to Shakespeare. The stained glass was absolutely beautiful throughout the church.
Shakespeare is buried alongside his wife, Anne Hathaway, his daughter and son in law.
At the church they had an old copy of the Bible open to Psalms. I loved the elaborate letters and seeing how different the English language looked in past generations.
We walked through a little market on our way into the town where there was a charity booth with owls that you could pet. This was one of my favourite things that we did all day. I pet three different owls and they were all surprisingly soft.
If you are planning a trip to England, definitely consider going to Stratford Upon Avon. These small towns sometimes feel the same as the last but Stratford was different. I enjoyed how many references to Shakespeare there were but they weren't relying solely on that fact to draw tourists. They had a proper high street with food and shopping in addition to all the touristy sights. Just try to avoid going after a giant landslide.
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