Home / Arts and Entertainment / Shakespeare's London Home Unearthed!
Shakespeare's London Home Unearthed!
16 Apr
Summary
- Shakespeare's London property located at 5 St Andrew's Hill.
- The playwright purchased the substantial dwelling in 1613.
- Discovery challenges narrative of his retirement to Stratford.
A significant historical document discovered in the London Archives has resolved a centuries-old mystery, precisely locating William Shakespeare's sole property in the capital at 5 St Andrew's Hill in Blackfriars. Acquired by the playwright in 1613, the property was a substantial dwelling, later divided into two houses.
This revelation, made by Professor Lucy Munro of King's College London, suggests Shakespeare spent more time in London during his later years than previously assumed. The findings encourage a re-examination of the belief that he exclusively retired to Stratford-upon-Avon, highlighting his ongoing professional and financial ties to the city.
Professor Munro's research, based on three unearthed documents, confirms the property's location and its eventual sale by Shakespeare's granddaughter in 1665, before its destruction in the Great Fire of London the following year. The discovery offers a new perspective on Shakespeare the London writer and his connection to the city.
