The Admiral Nelson

The Admiral Nelson has a bit of a chequered history, the building itself dates back to 1730 and pre dates the canal. It was originally a farm building and cows were milked where the restaurant is today and a green grocer’s shop which opened onto the lock side was where we have our skittles room now.

Leslie Morton of Fellows, Morton and Clayton used the pub as offices in the twilight days of canal carrying and it is said to be haunted by a figure in black that walks through the walls to the adjoining cottage (we are yet to see him).

In the not so distant past the canal side pub has opened and closed its doors many times and was known to the village as unreliable. We being a family of 5 first set our sights on The Admiral Nelson in late 2011 and when we took on the pub we were 100% passionate about turning the historical canal side Public House into a success. This is still very much how we feel today. 

Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, one of England's most beautiful parish churches.

 To be, or not to be: that is the question". - (Act III, Scene I). Hamlet
William Shakespeare

Holy Trinity is the church where William Shakespeare was baptised, where he worshipped and where he is buried. We are delighted to welcome the thousands of visitors who come each year to view his final resting place. We are also an active parish church serving the needs of local people. In fact, Christians have been worshipping God on this site for over 1,000 years.

 A Church on the banks of the Avon in Stratford is first mentioned in the charter of 845, signed by Beorhtwulf (Bertulf), King of Mercia. This would have been a wooden construction. It is very likely that the Normans replaced this with a stone building but no trace of either remains. The present limestone building was begun in 1210 and was built in the shape of a cross.

William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, was born in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 on St. George's day (23rd April) and died on the same day in 1616.

Or at least, so it is alleged. No records of births and deaths were made in those days. We do, however have records of his baptism on (April 26th 1564: Gulielimus, filius Johannes Shakspeare) and of his burial on (25th April 1616: Will Shakspeare, Gent). Both these events took place in Holy Trinity Church. It can be fairly safely assumed that he worshipped here as a boy and young man, and again after he retired to his home town.

On the closure of the College by Henry VIII the tithe (tax) income privileges were sold off. The duty of employing a Priest and looking after the Chancel went with the privileges. A share in them was purchased in 1605 for £440 by the son of a local glove-maker, one William Shakespeare. This, and not his ability as a poet and playwright, gave him the right of burial in the chancel. Until the 1790`s there stood a charnel house to the south of the chancel. Here the bones of those dug up to make room for new graves were laid to rest. Shakespeare obviously didn't like this idea and had a curse put on his grave slab - not at all uncommon at the time.

This charnel-house, like the College building, has now gone. The right of burial was inherited by Shakespeare's family. His wife, Ann Hathaway, daughter Suzanna and son-in-law Dr John Hall and Thomas Nash (first husband of Shakespeare's Grand-daughter Elizabeth) are buried in the chancel alongside him.

[ http://www.stratford-upon-avon.org/]

Hall's Croft The home of Shakespeare’s daughter, Susanna

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind". - (Act I, Scene I).

A Midsummer Night's Dream
William Shakespeare

You meet there beautifully furnished Jacobean home of Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her husband, Dr John Hall.  

The main part of this fine timbered property was built in 1613. For most of its history, it has been the home of prosperous, often professional people and in the mid-19^th century it served as a small school. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust purchased Hall’s Croft in 1949 and, after substantial repairs and alterations, opened it to the public in 1951.

John Hall was a physician of some renown and his case notes, published after his death in 1657, were a popular textbook for other doctors for many years. Dr Hall was a compassionate and diligent physician, treating both rich and poor, Catholic and Protestant patients alike. While some physicians practised astronomy or blood-letting, John Hall’s preference was for treatments made from plants, herbs, animal extracts, gemstones and rocks. 

Harvard House - Stratford's hidden gem

"All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts" - (Act II, Scene VII). As You Like It     
William Shakespeare

Once known as the Ancient House, the property was built by local businessman Thomas Rogers in 1596; the year before William Shakespeare bought New Place. Rogers also served as Alderman for the Stratford Corporation alongside John Shakespeare, William’s father. The elaborately carved front of the building is a clear statement of his wealth and social-standing.

In 1605, Thomas Rogers’ daughter Katherine married Robert Harvard of Southwark. Their son, John, was born two years later and would go on to move to Massachusetts, America with his wife Anne. When John Harvard died of tuberculosis in 1638, he bequeathed £750 to the fund for the founding of a new college – in excess of £3 million today – along with his library of 230 books.

In recognition of this generosity the town was renamed Cambridge, after the university John attended in England, and the new college would go on to bear his name. Harvard College remains one of the two schools within Harvard University and is the oldest institution of higher education in America.

In 1909, the Ancient House in Stratford-upon-Avon was purchased by Edward Morris of Chicago. After extensive restoration, it was given to Harvard University and became known as Harvard House. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has been caring for the property on behalf of Harvard University since 1990.

Shakespeare's Birthplace

We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/william_shakespeare.html

 WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE, BUT KNOW NOT WHAT WE MAY BE 

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's Birthplace is situated on Henley Street in the town centre of Stratford-upon-Avon.

We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/william_shakespeare.html

We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/william_shakespeare.html

We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamsha164317.html

We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamsha164317.html

We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/william_shakespeare.html

We know what we are, but know not what we may be. William Shakespeare
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/w/william_shakespeare.html

Shakespeare's Birthplace has been welcoming visitors for over 250 years. This is the house where William Shakespeare was born, grew up and played. He ate meals in the hall and he slept and dreamt in these rooms. Shakespeare also spent the first five years of married life in this house with his new wife, Anne Hathaway.

See how his father, John, earned his living as a glove maker and explore The Shakespeare Exhibition, before entering the house and it's outstanding gardens.

For millions of Shakespeare enthusiasts worldwide, this house is a shrine. Here you will discover the world that shaped the man and find out what other famous writers thought when they visited here. Follow in the footsteps of not only Shakespeare, but other well-known visitors such as Charles Dickens, John Keats, Walter Scott and Thomas Hardy.

Shakespeare's Birthplace is a fascinating house that offers a tantalising glimpse into Shakespeare's early world. It's a special place that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.