Picture of an
approximation of
William Shakespeare's New Place
Shakespeare and Stratford-upon-Avon
THE RETIREMENT OF WILLIAM
SHAKESPEARE
In 1610 William
Shakespeare appears to have retired to Stratford-upon-Avon
He had left his
home in Stratford for London sometime before 1592 - an
absence of nearly 20 years
He had lived in
lodgings in London before buying his own house, a gatehouse
to the main entrance to the vast monastery of the Black
Friars next to Blackfriars Theatre
Shakespeare had
become rich and famous living in London but had kept
business interests in his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon
All of his
family lived in Stratford. His brother, Edmund had joined
him in the London but had died of the plague in 1607
No particular
event seems to have prompted Shakespeare's retirement and
return to Stratford-upon-Avon
He was part
owner of the Globe Theatre and the Blackfriars Playhouse
taking 10% of the profits. This must have been a
considerable sum, which Shakespeare would have received
regardless of his location
He had bought
New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon, a magnificent house with
servants and other property in the location
He also had
interests in the corn and malt trades. He had been given a
Coat of Arms. He was a respected businessman in Stratford
Perhaps he just
wanted to leave the noisy, rowdy city of London for the
peaceful countryside and the comfort of his family
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE MOVES TO
STRATFORD BUT STILL VISITS LONDON
In 1610 William Shakespeare
moved to New Place in Stratford
In 1611 the first recorded
performances of The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, the Tempest and Cymbeline
were played in London - Shakespeare probably attended some of these
performances. Productions of the Tempest and The Winter's Tale took
place before King James I - Shakespeare would have definitely made an
appearance at these events!
On June 29th 1613 the Globe
Theatre was burnt to the ground and re-built six months later -
Shakespeare would have no doubt been involved
But he remained living in
Stratford where he would have been able to enjoy life with his family
including his wife Anne, his daughters Judith and Susanna and
granddaughter, Elizabeth
