Cowbright: Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon ("the street crosses/fords the river Avon") was the home of William Shakespeare and a popular tourist destination. Red double decker buses shuttle visitors between the house where Shakespeare was born, his wife Anne Hathaway's cottage and other family homes. Only 40 minutes from Stow-on-the-Wold, it receives nearly 5 million visitors each year.

Shakespeare, considered by many the world's most famous playwright, was born in 1564 and grew up in this home in Stratford-upon-Avon. At age 18, he married Anne Hathaway, 26. They lived in the house where he grew up for the first 5 years of their marriage and eventually had 3 children.

In this post I will include the house where he was born, Gower Memorial and the Holy Trinity Church, location of his burial. His is the only epitaph in a church which includes a curse on anyone should they move his bones. Consequently, they have not been moved.

The Gower Memorial sitting next to the River Avon depicts Shakespeare and some of the main characters from his plays. They are said to represent philosophy, tragedy, history and comedy.

Shakespeare was born and grew up in this home

bronze memorial to Shakespeare, Bancroft Gardens

base of monument

Lady MacBeth

Falstaff (lovable rogue)

Hamlet (deep thinker)

Prince Hal

Ronnie at Gower Memorial

River Avon

Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon

nave, Holy Trinity

Shakespeare's funerary monument

Good night, sweet prince

And flights of angels

Sing thee to thy rest.

inscription below

Translation:

Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear,
To dig the dust enclosed here.
Blessed be the man that spares these stones,
And cursed be he that moves my bones.

Well....alrighty then.