Stratford
Stratford-upon-Avon
It has been a fabulous three weeks in
Stratford-upon-Avon, where, obviously
... “the play's the thing “!
I saw Anthony and Cleopatra, a spectacular production of
Julius Caesar, and Oscar
Wilde's Salome at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre,
plus Twelfth Night,
Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Much Ado About Nothing at the
theatre in the park.
The house where Shakespeare was born still
stands, and makes for a fascinating tour.
His parents had two children before him, who did not survive
and William was lucky to make it through his first year, as the
plague struck Stratford 3 months after his birth.
His father was a business man, a glove maker,
wool trader and for a time mayor of
Stratford-upon-Avon.
Their home had signs of their success in the one window of
glass, and a spare bed!
These were definitely status symbols!
William went to the local school where he would
have received a fairly extensive education.
During his first years in London, he worked as an actor, and then as a
playwright. He invested in the acting company and made other astute
investments, returning to Stratford-upon-Avon
to purchase the largest house in town.
He and his family lived there for the remainder of his life.
That house no longer
exists, but the property's extensive gardens have wonderful
sculptures dedicated to his works.
Holy
Trinity
Church, where he was baptized, married,
and is buried, lies close by.
He is buried close to the altar. ..where the graves are less
likely to be disturbed. In his words:
Good friend for Jesus' sake
forbear
To dig the dust enclosed here
Blessed be the man that spares these stones
And cursed be he that moves my bones.
About half an hour away is Warwick Castle.
It is a great place to spend a day.
Originally built in 1068 by William the Conqueror, the
current Castle dates from the 1300s.
They do terrific demonstrations of archery, birds of prey,
and have an enormous trebuchet that hurls a boulder at 120 mph!
Hope you like the pics!
Off tomorrow to
Salisbury!
Photos: June 09: Stratford
Photos: June 10: Stratford
Photos: June 12: Stratford
Photos: June 13: Stratford
Photos: June 14: Stratford
Photos: June 15: Stratford
Photos: June 16: Stratford
Photos: June 20: Stratford
Photos: June 22: Stratford
