Mary Arden's Farm

“This was a fantastic experience for our children and the best school trip I’ve ever been on. Thank you so very much. It’s real for the children – they experience it! I really don’t know how it could be improved”
— Bishops Cleeve Primary School

“It was useful to have digital access to the historic homes as we live so far away. They loved hearing about Shakespeare’s school days.”
— Newcastle teacher

If you teach about Shakespeare at Primary level and would like to find out more about our workshops, developed by our award winning team, visit our Education pages.

See our Booking & Enquiries page for more information about our courses primary workshops.

Mary Arden's Farm is not open to the public at this time. The focus of the property is as a venue for primary learning. The operation of the property as a working farm will continue, giving children the opportunity to engage with the animals as part of their visit. For more information see our full statement.

More about Mary Arden's Farm
Built by Mary’s father, Robert Arden around 1514, Mary Arden’s House has been significantly altered over time. Today, visitors to Mary Arden’s Farm can peek inside the chimney and the walls, discover how the house was built and imagine what life must have been like for Mary when she lived here with her seven sisters.

Neighbouring Palmer’s Farmhouse retains much of its original 16th Century structure. Adam Palmer would have employed several day labourers to undertake the daily work on the land and the care of the livestock, and female servants to help his wife with domestic and farmyard tasks. By 1584 Palmer had improved his house, demolishing the old hall and parlour and building a new hall, cross-passage and kitchen, to create the building we see today.