Shakespeare Country

My mom recently came over from "across the pond" for a visit.  Taking advantage of living so close to Stratford Upon Avon, we visited numerous houses part of the William Shakespeare Trust.  Here you see the house of Shakespeare's birth.  He grew up in this house and even spent the first five years of his married life here.  Visiting historical buildings here in England really makes you realize how far we have come.  Putting food into perspective, during these times Shakespeare would not have yet tasted chocolate, sugar or even tea (as these products came to England later once the shipping trade "went global" from South America, the Caribbean and China respectively.)

Front of the Birthplace

Back of the house

Rooms inside as they might have been in Elizabethan times

Shakespeare's father made his fortune as a glove maker (he later had numerous sour business deals)

You will notice the short wooden 'poles' on the side of the bed, these were to keep one from falling out of bed as bedding used to be made of sheets stuffed with hay and animal fur, with numerous coverings of animal pelts, thus it was quite lumpy.  As well Elizabethan's slept sitting up rather then lying down as to not confuse the spirit of death into thinking they were dead!