Tag 15: Stratfort-upon- Avon

Plans are made to be changed. It is raining and according to the weather forecast, it will rain all day. Today, we will visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The drive from Warwick to Stratfort-upon-Avon is short and we quickly find a parking spot. We walk the remaining distance to the town as we opt for a free parking spot. The small town has many half-timbered houses and is pleasant to look at. Our first stop is the Shakespeare Birthplace. Initially, we only wanted to see the houses from the outside and save on entrance fees, but with the rain, we need an alternative. So, we pay 62 pounds for 3 museums. The first one is, as mentioned, the Birthplace. We explore detailed rooms with 3 sections. The first section consists of 2 rooms where Shakespeare's aunt lived with her husband and children. The second section is where Shakespeare's parents lived with their 6 children. The parents and the three youngest children shared a room, while the other 3 children shared a room with one bed. The 16-year-old William slept on the left, his 14-year-old brother next to him, and the 6-year-old slept at their feet, and the bed was perhaps 120 cm wide. Oh, the luxury we have today. There was also a kitchen and a workshop for the father, who made gloves. The third section was a pub with two rooms. This allows us to understand the way of life in the 16th century very well. There is a guide in each room who tells stories and provides information. We learn that up to 4,000 visitors pass through this museum every day. It's a good thing we arrived so early, as the queues are still short. Now we stroll in the rain to the second museum. It is called 'New Place' and is a house that Shakespeare bought for 120 pounds when he was already famous and wealthy. That was a lot of money at the time, as a teacher earned 20 pounds a year. The half-timbered house has been renovated several times in the past. We listen to a guide telling us the story of the house. The house doesn't offer much, but we still visit the beautiful garden, although it's not as nice in the rain. Now we walk along the Avon, which is the river that flows through the town. We are wet and cold, so we go into a pub to have lunch. Afterward, we walk along a beautiful trail along the Avon back to the car. At the other end of town is the Anne Hathaway Cottage. This is where the 8 years older wife of William Shakespeare was born. The museum also showcases the lifestyles of that time. We learn that Anne was already pregnant at their wedding and William married at a very young age compared to other men of his standing. The gardens are beautifully landscaped and well-maintained. Unfortunately, a lot of the charm is lost due to the rain. Around 3 PM, we begin our journey to Oxford. It's still raining when we arrive, so we spend the evening in the car. We buy a game of Uno and pass the time.