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Anne Hathaway's Cottage
Relive Shakespeare’s love story
A photo opportunity in the beautiful grounds
Our traditional cottage garden will delight your senses
Upstairs in the Cottage
Spotted in the gardens
Activities for the whole family
Explore our sculpture trail
Visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the beautiful 500 year old cottage where Shakespeare courted his bride-to-be. See original furniture including the Hathaway bed and uncover five centuries of stories in this picturesque cottage and 13 generations of the family who lived there. Continue reading...
Anne
Hathaway’s Cottage was originally a farmhouse. It was built in 1463 of
cruck construction, when the building would have comprised of just three rooms. The kitchen and parlour still remain
from the original medieval construction. The first Hathaway to live in the cottage
was Anne’s grandfather John Hathaway, who was a tenant sheep farmer. Anne,
later Shakespeare’s wife, was born in the cottage in 1556.
When the site was a farm it was known as ‘Hewlands’ and the Hathaway family were very successful sheep farmers. The garden would have been a farmyard with some livestock and likely a herb garden.
After the death of Anne’s father in 1581, Anne’s brother Bartholomew inherited the tenancy of the 90-acre farm and later bought it freehold. He went on to make various improvements to the cottage including an extension. The first floor was inserted and the chimneys added at the same time. This work was completed before the death of Bartholomew in 1624.
By the late 1800s, the family’s fortunes were on the wane; some property including land and houses were mortgaged and eventually sold. In 1838, the cottage itself was sold and the remaining Hathaway family continued to live in the cottage as tenants.
One of the last Hathaways to live in the cottage was Mary Baker. When the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust purchased the cottage in 1892 from the then landlord, Mary and her family were paid the large wage of £75 per year. Their duties were to share family stories and to care for the cottage, both of which we continue to do today. Her son William Baker still occupied part of the cottage until he left in 1911.
Highlights
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discover
Sculpture Trail
See works inspired by Shakespeare as you explore the grounds
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gardens
Beautiful Cottage Gardens
Wander through nine acres of beautiful woodland, orchards & gardens
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enjoy
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage Cafe
Relax and grab a bite in our cafe, with stunning views of the Cottage
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discover
Willow creations
Hear a sonnet in the arbour and look out for our giant willow sculptures
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families
Family Activity Marquee
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gardens
Restoration of the gardens
Find out how we are restoring the romantic style of the gardens
Events
Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations
Join us in Stratford-upon-Avon for a day of live performances, crafts and cake!
- General Interest
- No booking required
- Various
Ladybird Release Day
Help us create safe habitats for our plants and flying friends!
- Family
- No booking required
- Anne Hathaway's Cottage
Getting here
Nearby attractions
10 minutes drive to Shakespeare’s Birthplace
7 minutes drive to Mary Arden’s Farm
Warwickshire,
CV37 9HH
The Cottage grounds
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The Cottage grounds
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Walk the Anne Hatha-way
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Walk the Anne Hatha-way