Nash's House, Church Street, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire.

Nash's House was named after Thomas Nash, first husband of Shakespeare's granddaughter, and a wealthy local property owner. Today, it is a well preserved Tudor building and the ground floor is furnished as it would have been in Nash's day.

Next door to Nash's House are the foundations of New Place. This was the house bought by William Shakespeare in 1597. By the late 1590s, Shakespeare was an established playwright and had amassed enough wealth to afford a new family home. New Place was the second biggest house in Stratford at the time and it was where Shakespeare lived when he was not in London. He died here in 1616.

In 1702 John Clopton radically altered, or rebuilt, the original New Place - contemporary illustrations suggest the latter. In 1756 then-owner Reverend Francis Gastrell, having become tired of visitors, attacked and destroyed a mulberry tree in the garden said to have been planted by Shakespeare. In retaliation, the townsfolk destroyed New Place's windows. Gastrell applied for local permission to extend the garden. His application was rejected and his tax was increased, so Gastrell retaliated by demolishing the house in 1759!!!!

Thanks for all the C&Cs on 'Lost Love'.

Best wishes,
Philip

Tags: Architecture Warwickshire Wisteria Stratford upon avon Church street Shakespeare birthplace trust Nashs house Thomas Nash Leaded-light window Timber framed building

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