As part of Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s commitment to the conservation and preservation of the Shakespeare family homes, a series of important works will be taking place at Shakespeare’s Birthplace from Monday 6 January to Friday 17 January and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage from Monday 20 January to Friday 31 January 2025.
Preparations are underway to ensure that two historic buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon where William Shakespeare once walked as well as the important collections on display within are conserved and protected for years to come.
Works at both Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage include planned minor building repairs, decoration, and general maintenance. The SBT’s collections care team will also be refreshing display cases, resting pieces of furniture, deep cleaning, and compiling condition reports of items in its world-class collections and archive.
As well as preserving the buildings and its displays, the SBT gardens team will also be taking extra care of the outdoor spaces at both properties to ensure that they remain serene spaces for visitors all year-round whilst also protecting local biodiversity.
‘’Every year, we welcome thousands of visitors to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage to walk in the footsteps of Shakespeare and his family.
‘’As with any home, the buildings require ongoing care. With our ever-changing climate, we also need to protect the properties from the elements, allowing us to preserve the Shakespeare family homes for future generations to enjoy and explore.”
Said Mark Ratcliffe, Head of Estates at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
To complete these important works efficiently, and to minimise disruption, both properties will undergo short conservation periods. However, the team at the much-loved properties are keen to ensure that audiences do not miss the fascinating work taking place and are planning to share a special behind-the-scenes glimpse of the work through their social media channels.
‘’During this period, we want our audience to feel involved in this important process and to discover the incredible work that maintains and protects our properties. That is why we will be sharing behind-the-scenes content on our social channels. We also encourage visitors to explore our online collections, where they can immerse themselves in Shakespearian history from the comfort of their own homes."
Said Rachael North, Interim CEO at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Shakespeare’s Birthplace will not be accessible to visitors between Monday 6 January and Friday 17 January, and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage will not be accessible between Monday 20 January and Friday 31 January.
“These conservation efforts are crucial for these much-loved buildings. Both the Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage play a vital role in the history not only of William Shakespeare and his family but also of Stratford-upon-Avon.”
Continued Ms North.
For more information about the conservation period, including ticketing enquiries, visit https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/.
To view the SBT’s extensive online collections catalogue, visit https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk.