In the summer of 1592, London suffered an outbreak of the plague. Public gathering places, including theatres, were shut down to stop it spreading. Theatre companies went on tour to carry on working, but Shakespeare stayed behind. It is supposed that he used the two years that the theatres were closed to write poetry. He began with ‘Venus and Adonis’ and ‘Lucrece’, and a few years later we see published evidence of his abundance of sonnets.
Today’s reveal celebrates Shakespeare’s non-dramatic poetic output. 154 beautiful metal darts, engraved with the first two lines of each sonnet or poem, will be worked into the stone paving throughout the Golden Garden. Some of the ribbons have been sponsored by kind friends and supporters of the Trust, and you can be a part of Shakespeare’s New Place in this way too.
> Find out more about sponsoring a sonnet.
Shakespeare’s New Place opens Summer 2016. Come and walk in Shakespeare's footsteps and meet the man behind the works in a fascinating new exhibition. Discover beautiful gardens and specially-commissioned artworks.
Find out more about Shakespeare's New Place.