About Stratford

William Shakespeare

The Shakespeare Properties

Web	www.stratford.co.uk

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Mary Arden's House

This magnificent, thatched and timber-framed, Tudor farmstead was identified in the 18th century as childhood home of Mary Arden, mother of William Skakespeare.* Mary Arden was the youngest of eight daughters of Robert Arden, an affluent Warwickshire husbandman. The Arden family had a notable family pedigree, with probable links to Walter Arden of Park Hall and esteemed ancestors stretching as far back as Saxon times. The farmhouse is situated in the beautiful green-field setting of Wilmcote, a village 3 miles north-west of Stratford.

The striking timbered frontage is framed by drystone walls and curious box hedges. Until recently the oak half-timbered structure was hidden under a cladding of stucco, which inadvertently kept the fabric in remarkably good condition. The building is appropriately constructed using oak from the nearby Arden forest and stone from Wilmcote itself. The house has an intriguing, fairytale atmosphere with uneven walls, irregular handmade tiles and tiny dormer windows.

It is also fortunate that the house has been continually inhabited by farmers, insuring that the fascinating outbuildings remain largely intact. Outdoor attractions include a dovecote with 657 nesting holes, cowsheds, stables, a cidermill and barns. The outbuildings and nearby Glebe Farm now house an extensive museum illustrating rural life over the last 400 years. The site now has considerable educational value in addition to its historic interest. There are daily demonstrations by the Heart of England falconry, field walks, gypsy caravans and a resident blacksmith. The farm is home to long-horn cows, prize-winning Cotswold sheep, rare breeds of poultry and a pond full of ducks.

In 1930 the house was bought by the Birthplace Trust and the interior has been painstakingly furnished in keeping with a wealthy Tudor farming family. Original features retained include great wooden beams, a stone lagged floor and a great open fire place in the kitchen.

Visiting the properties
All the Shakespeare properties are open to the public. To find out more visit the following website:

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The official website of the Sheakespeare Birthplace Trust. The Trust administers all the Shakespeare properties in Stratford. Their website includes full details of opening hours and admission charges.
www.shakespeare.org.uk

Please note: We do our best to ensure that all weblinks are working correctly, but we cannot be held responsible for the content of other websites.

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