We started our journey to Stratford-upon-Avon with a bang! Three minutes into our trip, we blew a tire. Thankfully, with our combined brain power, and some teamwork, we figured out how to change the tire. Then, we were on our way to our first stop: William Shakespeare’s childhood home.

It was easy for me to imagine a young Will Shakespeare growing up here. Sallie, who works at Shakespeare’s Birthplace, told us all about the way of life during Shakespeare’s time. Life is so different now. For one thing, in Shakespeare’s day babies were born at home rather than hospitals.

I could not believe how big the house was. Not only was this the house where the Shakespeare family lived, it was also where William’s father had his shop. At its busiest, there would have been several apprentices living in the house as well.

Today, the house is set up to look the way that it did when Shakespeare lived here. We looked in every room and found out some great facts about the family’s way of life and social status. There are several items in the house that provided clues to the type of life they lived. Sallie pointed out some hand-painted wall hangings which would have been quite expensive. As a glove-maker, Shakespeare’s father must have been quite prosperous.

Sallie shared her favorite item in the house, a trunkle bed, which is where the saying “Good Night, Sleep Tight” comes from. To find out, you will have to watch the video.

Enhance your Shakespearean knowledge: Learn about Christopher Marlowe another great writer born the same year as Shakespeare.

More tomorrow,

Follow in Shakespeare’s footsteps: Visit the Holy Trinity Church.

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