Brushing Up Our Shakespeare

Stratford-Upon-Avon could be approached as a Shakespeare theme park; there are certainly plenty of attractions and shops ready to separate us from our cash in the name of the Bard. But there is much more to this lovely Tudor Warwickshire town. Shakespeare’s childhood school is one such example.

King Edward VI School (KES) was granted a Charter by its namesake in 1553 for the establishment of a school. The original building from that time remains. Not only is it available for tourists to enter, but enthusiastic staff explain the history of the building, which of course pre-dates Shakespeare. We were hurried into a “class room” with a “teacher” who was not impressed with our tardiness, or about the deficits in our understanding of Latin! Originally, the boys (and of course we were all boys) sat on wooden forms according to age, moving along to the next form with each successive year. The boys from KES use the building to this day. The school library was located there until recently. What a sense of history must be instilled in them to be in this 500 year old classroom.

Anne Hathaway’s cottage also dates back further than Shakespeare, to the 15th century. Anne’s brother, as well as subsequent generations improved and extended the property, and it stayed in the family until the 19th Century. It was acquired by the Shakespeare trust in 1892. The cottage is set in lovely gardens which have been planted with heritage flowers and vegetables. An interesting and relaxing place to visit.

Our serious Shakespeare immersion comes this evening with “King Lear” at the Royal Shakespeare Company.