Pink Woshette visits Stratford Upon Avon and Warwick

This is not a medical hospital, but a place where veterans of war are given a tranquil place to retire to.

The gardens were lovely and tranquil. Their device seems to be a bear. There were bears everywhere! Woshette found a lovely big one. Here she is in a Titanic style pose

Shakespeare's father was a glove maker by profession. These are examples of the kind of gloves he made. Some are rough cut gloves for workmen, to protect their hands as they worked. However, others were beautifully embroidered, and lined with fur. They cost a fortune and would show off your status if you were wealthy. The money made by Shakespeare's father from this trade, gave Shakespeare a comfortable childhood and upbringing.

Aww thats great Looks like woshette had an amazing time. Ive been to the falstaffs experience (ghost hunting). Theres a chap who is a lookie likey of henry the VIII and he does tours in the day.

Have you read ‘Hamnet’ by Maggie O’Farrell? It’s a 2020 novel that explores Shakespeare’s home life, both as he was growing up and then later his own children’s upbringing. Shakespeare’s father is portrayed as an awful brute; I wonder how realistic of an interpretation that is. Was there any mention of his character at all on your visit?

I would like to meet him - Henry V111 is my celebrity crush

Looks fantastic, and looks like you all had a fantastic day! And at the end of the day, I don’t blame Pink Woshette - who isn’t a little bit scared of Lady Macbeth?? Will be returning to Oxford soon and will try to share some of the snaps from our visit!

Awesome pictures, Oxford Mum!! Stratford is beautiful (I’ve only been there once but saw a Midsummer Night’s Dream which was amazing)!! Pink Woshette looks like she had a great time 😂

She absolutely loved it, thanks! Next visit we hope to be Edinburgh (or Barcelona, depending on how travel opens up), for my birthday in May.

Will do another thread then.

She absolutely loved it, thanks! Next visit we hope to be Edinburgh (or Barcelona, depending on how travel opens up), for my birthday in May.

Will do another thread then.

Wow Barcelona!!

So it’s a no for Edinburgh then, lol

Haha sorry - Edinburgh sounds fantastic too, i’m just a lover of everything Spain!

At the age of 18, Shakespeare got himself a girlfriend, called Anne Hathaway. She was 26 years old, so he would definitely qualify as a toy boy!

Here is a photo of Woshette and her own boyfriend, Woshii, outside Anne Hathaway's cottage



Shakespeare must have liked her a lot, as he would have had to walk several miles to see her at the cottage. Before their marriage, the cottage had only 3 rooms (the ones underneath the lower gable). When Shakespeare became rich and famous, it was extended quite a bit.

Whilst he was courting her, she became pregnant (sounds like a TSR thread- 18 and my 26 year-old girlfriend is pregnant - what do I do now?)

In those days, there was only one thing to do. They got married using a special religious dispensation, so they could get married before the baby was born. At first, they went back to Shakespeare's parents' house to live.

The resulting daughter, Susanna, ended up marrying a Cambridge educated doctor called Dr Hall. They lived in Stratford, quite close to the church where Shakespeare is buried. Dr Hall was a celebrity in his own right at the time. He had a good reputation and even treated the local gentry. He had all kinds of novel cures, which were made into a book (can be purchased at Shakespeare book shop). You used to be able to go round the house, but unfortunately it is temporarily closed to the public, and looks pretty empty.

https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/halls-croft/about-halls-croft/

Crikey, you would not want to be one of his wives - plus he stank so much in his latter years, you could smell him three rooms away, apparently.

No one's perfect OM and he was a fine looking man in his youth