Shakespeare Hall

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Shakespeare Hall
Warwickshire
Location
Grid reference: SP20487009
Location: 52°19’43"N, 1°42’3"W
Village: Rowington Green
History
Built 16th century
Country house
Information

Shakespeare Hall is a modest country house in Rowington Green in Warwickshire, a little north-west of Warwick. The house was built in the 16th century for the Shakespeare family, relatives of William Shakespeare, who himself was born in Stratford upon Avon.

The house today is a Grade II listed building,[1] and remains a private home.

Local legend has it that William Shakespeare wrote As You Like It while at Shakespeare Hall in 1559.[2]

In 2019 a ring was found in a field next to the hall bearing the inscription "Truth Betrays Not".[2]

Structure

The house has a 16th century central range, with cross-wings added in the 17th century. A central cross-gable is dated '1682'. Further alterations were made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The house displays a mixture of red brick and close-studded timber-framing with brick infill. It carries a complex old plain-tile roof, and has various brick stacks, mostly rebuilt late twentieth century. The casements have no regular pattern.

Inside, a straight-flight staircase from the ground to first floors brought in from house in Solihull, dated 1665, with a carved balustrade. Some rooms also have panelling brought in. There are Tudor-period arched stone fireplaces to some ground floor rooms.[1]

Miscellany

In William Shakespeare's will, he leaves to his daughter Judith amongst other bequests:

All her estate & Right that shall discend or come vnto her after my deceas or that shee nowe hath of in or to one Copiehold tenemente with thappurtenaunces lyeing and being in Stratford vpon Avon aforesaied in the saied countie of Warr, being parcell or holden of the mannour of Rowington

The connection with Rowington is otherwise obscure.

Outside links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 National Heritage List 1035062: Shakespeare Hall
  2. 2.0 2.1 'Grandma with metal detector discovers ‘William Shakespeare’s ring’ in field': Faye Brown in MetroUK 3 September 2019