While the family was in town I had a chance to visit William Shakespeare’s home. It was pretty cool folks to wander through the house where he was born. And he and his wife, Anne Hathaway, lived there for the first five years of their marriage. For a minute or two I felt smarter. That feeling is always fleeting for me. If you ever find yourself in his hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon, I highly recommend visiting his house.
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About TBM
TB Markinson is an American who's recently returned to the US after a seven-year stint in the UK and Ireland. When she isn't writing, she's traveling the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in New England, or reading. Not necessarily in that order.
Her novels have hit Amazon bestseller lists for lesbian fiction and lesbian romance.
She cohosts the Lesbians Who Write Podcast (lesbianswhowrite.com) with Clare Lydon. TB also runs I Heart Lesfic (iheartlesfic.com), a place for authors and fans of lesfic to come together to celebrate lesbian fiction.
50 Year Project 
I love those fleeting moments of intelligence. Really rare in this brain too. I always sort of wish that “they” had kept everything around a place like this just as is was in the famouse occupant’s time – no paved streets, no repainted buildings, the contents of chamber pots being tossed from the second story onto unsuspecting tourists. But I guess if they did that, the whole place would have fallen down by now. Thanks for sharing!
I would have loved to seen some get hit with the contents of a chamber pot…but alas it was not meant to be. It is odd to see Shakespeare’s home and then present day shops right across the street.
Wonderful… Thank you, love, nia
Thanks Nia.
quite a nice town too!
We didn’t spend too much time there, but I thought is looked like a great place to spend a weekend. Next time hopefully.
This is real cool. It is awesome to visit those old places. It gives me goose bumps
I love it, I really do. I’ve spent years studying history and now I live in a place steeped in history. This is a dream come true for me and I’m thrilled.
LOL. Maybe I’ll visit and stay a while…;-)
I wish you luck in maintaining the smart feel 🙂
Thanks! 😉
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
As You Like It
I have always loved that quote. He really knows how to insult people and most of the time the person doesn’t know. I need to read more of his works to hone my skills.
That’s a really nice shot :). Daniel went there too and to Anne Hathaway’s house, but he was disappointed that you couldn’t take pictures inside. Was there a performer in the backyard at Shakespeare’s house?
Most of the houses I’ve visited in England and in America forbid you from taking photos. I understand the reasons, but I would love to take photos. There was a performer in the backyard and I enjoyed that. I hope in the future to visit Hathaway’s house…I feel another day trip coming on.
Good idea! I’ll be right there. Just let me hop on a plane :).
Cool! And we can try some pubs…remember, half pints.
I love old looking places like this… how gorgeous.
The backyard was really lovely as well. I’ll share more photos in the future.
This is very Eat Pray Love like. Good for you. I look forward to traveling on your journey with you.
Thanks. I haven’t read Eat Pray Love, but many people have recommended it for me. I should look for a copy.
Imagine, I know the Hathaway actress but not Shakespeare’s wife. Informative! Thank you.
Don’t feel bad. Several years ago one of my coworkers asked me if I knew the name of Shakespeare’s wife and I couldn’t remember it. It upset him. He said, “I thought you of all people here would know since you always have your nose in a book.” He used to be an English teacher and I let him down. I know now that I will never forget her name. When I visit her home I’ll send my coworker a picture of the house.
Stratford is such a quaint little town – i loved spending time there!! 🙂 **
Me too!
Now that is a place I would visit – just to see where he lived. Sadly the last time I was in London I could not get there.
I understand…there is much to do and see in England. Hopefully you will make it there.
Did you go to Anne Hathaway’s house too? If not, put it on the list. It is well worth it and the in house guides are excellent.
I didn’t see it, but it is on my list. Good to know about the house guides. They make a world of difference when they know their stuff 🙂 When I visited Mark Twain’s home in Hartford our guide was super knowledgeable.
That’s such a cool building! I like old architecture like this. What a nice experience to visit and feel smarter. Thanks for posting this.
His house is much more interesting to look at than my flat.
To me it was very interesting to see William Shakespeare’s home house.
It was exciting to be there and to experience his home.
Recognized the house immediatly. We do feel smarter there, shame the effect doesn’t last.
It is a shame…but to experience it, even briefly is wonderful.
🙂 Yea, of course you’re normally just a dunce… 😉 Would love to spend at least a month in the UK, and visit all the countless places I would like to see, like this one…
I hope you get to do that! This is an amazing place to see. And I would love to spend a month in your country and to experience all you see.
Always so humble, you ARE smart, TBM. Hehe. We just had a London-based multi-award-winning Filipino author attend the Asian Festival of Children’s Content in Singapore. You should check out her book and touch base with her. 🙂
I would have loved to have attended the Festival. That sounds exciting. I’ll have to look her up 🙂
I went there when I was in England about 6 years ago. We rented a car and struck off to see the countryside. (Luckily I didn’t have to drive because that would have been disastrous.) One thing I remember fondly about Shakespeare’s house was the garden. It was very charming with lots of wildflowers.
And I also got a Will Shakespeare funky magnet for my refrigerator. 🙂
I took some photos of the garden. Since we just had a ton of rain it looks so green and vibrant. I haven’t tried driving here yet…and I don’t think it will be a good idea. I’m not assertive enough.
I feel the vibe from here
I think you keep the vibe close to you Jo.
We were there in 1985! Seems like a lifetime ago!
Time does fly!
That is so cool. I feel wiser just looking at the house. Haha!
It has an amazing way of doing that.
I nearly ended up living/working in Stratford – alas love triumphed and I moved to Belfast!
I found it a strange place – beautiful buildings like this right next door to Woolworths and the likes which were less than unextraordinary!
It is a shame that it still doesn’t look like it did during his time. That would be amazing. But how do you stop progress? I haven’t been to Belfast yet, but I hope to make it up your way.
I like the glens of Antrim and the more wild bits of the country best. Belfast I can take or leave. I’ve been here 6 years now and still never really done the touristy thing there though.
We didn’t have a car here for so long but now we do, and we have the dogs to take out into the wilds, it’s been great exploring. And I’m a sucker for a good old pub with a fireplace!