Harvard House

Harvard House - Watercolour by Paul Wright

(click on image to order a print)

Harvard House may appear somewhat of a Cinderella compared to the other properties administered by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, but it is an extremely interesting building - particularly for American visitors.

In 1596 Thomas Rogers, a wealthy merchant, built number 26 High Street as a prestigious family residence and recorded the date and the initials of his wife Alice and their son William on the front of the building. This elaborately carved façade is the richest example remaining in town and a testimony to Rogers’s wealth. The Rogers’s daughter, Katherine, married Robert Harvard of Southwark, London. They had six children but in 1625 Robert and four of their children succumbed to the plague then ravishing the capital, leaving just two sons, John and Thomas. His widow was left well provided for and shortly afterwards married again, John Elletson, but only five months later he also died leaving her the bulk of his property.

Number 26 was known as ‘The Ancient House’ and it was not until the late nineteenth century, when the link was firmly established, that it was renamed Harvard House.

John Harvard was born in 1607 and educated at St Saviour’s Grammar School in Southwark then entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge graduating with both BA and MA degrees. His mother died in 1635 and John inherited her substantial estate, his brother dying two years later. In 1636 he married Ann Saddler and they sailed to America in 1637. Realising the importance of education in a growing colony he took a substantial library with him and was warmly received being admitted as a freeman of the colony. This promising beginning was cut cruelly short as he died, after a short illness, in 1638 aged just 31. He left no will but made a verbal disposition of his property: half his estate and all his library to the proposed newly founded college at Newtown (which later became Cambridge) Massachusetts. It was the estate inherited from his mother which enabled him to be such a generous benefactor. In 1639 it was ordered, ‘that the college agreed on formerly to be built at Cambridge shall be called Harvard College’. The college became Harvard University in 1780.

Harvard House was administered by Harvard University, through a British trust, until the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust assumed responsibility for it. The large Stars and Stripes flag still flies, proudly acknowledging its connection to John Harvard and the fine University he made possible.

In 1996 Harvard House became the Museum of British Pewter following the generous donation to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust of the Neish Pewter Collection and the fitting out of the House to accommodate it. It is well worth a visit to see these unique and beautiful pieces.

Henley Street & The Birthplace

William Shakespeare's Birthplace

Henley Street, in the summertime, offers visitors and locals alike a variety of entertainment. Firstly the buskers seem to be particularly attracted to it. Yesterday, for instance, there was a young guy outside the bank belting out his version of rock with a well amplified backing. Maybe he had dreams of being 'discovered' and up there with the uber-celebs and the correspondingly rich lifestyle. Over the road, and in complete contrast, was a 'golden oldie' playing his accordian to the somewhat dated 'Roll out the Barrel'. His thoughts were probably less ambitious, not going beyond attracting some dosh into his hat. A little further along were two pretty, sweet-faced girls, looking no older than sixteen, playing a violin and flute respectively. They were in national costume and said shyly, and in excellent English, that they were from Belarus and on holiday. Then outside the library there was the almost resident greyed-up Shakespeare figure standing on a small dais, whose modus operandi is to pose statue-like so that visitors can have their photos taken beside him. He seems to have put a twist on it this summer as once the punter is beside him he suddenly leans down and shouts loudly at which the poor soul screams and leaps about a couple of feet in the air, much to the delight of onlookers. They usually see the joke though and happily hand over some cash.

Of course the No. 1 attraction in this street is The Birthplace to which thousands of visitors flock each year. The doorway just has to be about the most photographed in the country as everyone wants to stand in front of it and have an 'I was there' picture to show the folks back home. Visitors pour in from all over the world, particularly Orientals who, I understand, have a wide knowledge of the Bard and his works. Coach loads of children come too, probably fulfilling part of the schools' cultural curriculum.

If you have got this far do go to the very end of the street to look at the charming statue of The Jester. This bronze is the work of James Butler, RA and around the plinth are quotations from 'As You Like It', 'Twelfth Night' and 'Hamlet' - all pertaining to various jesters in these plays. This specially commissioned work was, as the plaque shows, 'A Gift from Anthony Bird, OBE, to Stratford-on-Avon as a token of his esteem for the town in which he was born, lives and works and which has given him so much friendship, good fortune and pleasure'. - Charming!

Oh, and by the way, click on Shakespeare's birthplace image above and you can order one of the many great souvenirs bearing this fabulous digital watercolour by my son-in-law, Paul Wright.