The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon has begun preparations for an archaeological excavation at the site of Shakespeare’s final home ‘New Place’ where he lived out his final years and in which he died in 1616. Initial work to test the feasibility of an excavation project is underway and will inform plans for a wider archaeological project by the Trust at New Place next year.

In an effort to reveal more information about the final home of our greatest playwright, the Trust has teamed up with Birmingham Archaeology to commence a program of trial trenching and investigative work. The test work will help to establish levels of deposit survival at New Place and quantify the potential for waterlogged conditions, which are favourable for preserving organic materials that may otherwise decay. The test work comprises seven small inspection trenches and the initial findings suggest that structures and wells are indeed present in some areas of the site.

As the residence of William Shakespeare during his later years and the house in which he died, New Place has a colourful history. Built in 1483 with innovative materials such as brick, New Place was a distinguished property, the second largest in the town. The building was significantly altered and controversially demolished by then owner, Rev. Gastrell in 1759, and was also excavated by the Victorian antiquarian, Halliwell-Phillipps in the 1860’s. However, it is thought that much of the original remains could still lie buried across the site.

A new excavation of New Place would present fresh opportunities for today's archaeologists using modern techniques to re-explore the grounds, and study the remains of Shakespeare’s home, backyards and garden, including previously untouched areas of the site. Although the details of the 2010 excavation are yet to be determined, the trial trenching is providing the Trust with a survey of the archaeological potential and helping to shape plans for a larger public project.

If the final results from the trial work prove to be positive, the project, managed by Birmingham Archaeology could start next year, recording the layout of the original property and searching for the foundations of New Place. Plans may also include a thorough examination of Victorian ‘spoil’, original wells, and possibly even rubbish pits.

Dr. Diana Owen, Director of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said, “Plans for a ‘dig’ are still at a conceptual stage. However our purpose would be to create a modern record of New Place, providing us with a better understanding of the site, and potentially revealing new information about the house in which Shakespeare died and the way in which the family lived there. We hope that a project of this kind would present a unique opportunity for our visitors to watch – even join in - an excavation as it unfolds and ultimately advance our learning and thinking about Shakespeare”.

Kevin Colls of Birmingham Archaeology also commented, “The project at New Place really is exciting and unique. As archaeologists, we rarely have the chance to investigate remains which are directly associated with a single individual let alone one of the most important figures in history! Archaeology can compliment the documentary sources and written record, to build up a better picture of Shakespeare’s life and times.”

Details of the investigative work are still being compiled by the Trust and a definitive picture of an archaeological excavation at New Place will not be clear until early next year. However the Trust is ambitious in it’s plans, and the prospect of combining two exciting subjects, William Shakespeare and archaeology, certainly has the potential to create a truly intoxicating mixture and an unparalleled visitor experience.

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