1. Stratford Upon Avon
16th Century

2. 16th Century SUA, Warwickshire, England, U.K.
Fertile farming region
Corn Chandlers
Millers
Wool Merchants
Traders / Dealers / Craftsman / Artisans
Bread / Ale / Candles / Feather Beds

3. Clopton Bridge, SUA
Financed by Hugh Clopton of Clopton House, later became Lord Mayor of London in 1491
Still standing today

4. Holy Trinity Church, SUA
Episcopal
26 April 1564 elaborate Catholic decór painted over
16th Century: ENTIRE town worshiped here

5. Shakespeares in SUA
2 Families

6. Will’s Parents: Father
John Shakespeare
Important Citizen of SUA
“Freeman” - earned his living from a town trade
Craftsman: Whitlawering - working with white leather
Gloves, aprons, purses

7. Will’s Parents: Father
John Shakespeare, Business Man
1 of 14 burgesses in SUA
9am seven days / week
Dealt with “town business”
Water supply
Street repair
Market profits and losses
Beer and Ale Trade & Testing

8. Will’s Parents: Father
John Shakespeare, Business Man
4 town business position held in his lifetime
Burgess
Chamberlain
Alderman - special attire
Bailiff - escorted to Guild Hall by uniformed guards; sat in front at church

9. Alderman’s Attire
Fur trimmed black gown
Thumb Ring

10. College of Heralds, London
Joined
Granted coat of arms
Titled
Gentleman John Shakespeare
of Stratford Upon Avon

11. Will’s Parents: Mother
Mary Arden
Daughter of landowning / farming family
Eight of more older siblings (Will’s aunts and uncles)
1556: inherited large portion of Arden Family property in SUA and Wilcote
1557: married John Shakespeare
John and Mary rented out the Arden Family land to wool merchants and farmers

12. Will’s Sibs Sister born 1558 - died in infancy
Will - first to survive more than a few months
Gilbert
Richard
Edmund
Joan

13. Henley Street House

14. Will’s Birthplace
Purchase date of original house by John Shakespeare unknown
1557 neighboring house and garden purchased
“Link Block” - 2 houses renovated into 1

15. Will’s Birthplace Construction Materials: Brick foundation
Timber beams
Walls filled with
Woven sticks - covered in mud and dung
Oak staves & plaster ($$$)
The fact that oak staves a & plaster are present in the walls reflects the wealth of the Shakespeare Family.

16. The King’s New School (Stratford Grammar School)

17. Will @ School Girls Needlework Singing Musical instruments Boys
Lute
Virginals (16th Century piano)
Boys
Alphabet
Reading / Writing / Arithmetic
Protestant Catechism, Psalms, & Devotionals
Latin: Language & Literature

18. Graduation Requirements
School
Graduation Requirements
Translate Latin Bible into English
Memorization of Withal’s Short Dictionary
History from Julius Caesar to Henry VIII

19. Graduation Requirements
Had he gone to college
Graduation Requirements
Divinity
Law
Medicine
Literature

20. Will’s Wife Anne Hathaway
Hewlands Farm - Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Shottery (south of SUA)
Richard Hathaway - Anne’s father; successful farmer
2 younger sisters

21. Arrangement made by John and Richard
Marriage 1582
Arrangement made by John and Richard
Mary and Anne’s mother were close friends
Anne was older than Will, who was 18 years old

22. A Happy Marriage
Susanna - born 5 months after wedding; Anne was pregnant at the alter
Judith fraternal twin sister
Hamnet fraternal twin brother

23. Sonnet 145
Those lips that Love’s own hand did make
Breathed forth the sound that said ‘I hate’
To me to languisht for her sake:
But when she saw my woeful state,
Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet
Was used in giving gentle doom;
And taught it thus anew to greet;
‘I hate’ she alter’d with an end,
That follow’d it as gentle day
Doth follow night, who like a fiend
From heaven to hell is flown away;
‘I hate’ from hate away she threw’
And saved my life, saying--’not you.’

24. Will, Anne, and the Children