Nash’s House and New Place

Nash’s House and New Place are two sites which are closely connected to famous playwright, William Shakespeare.

Nash’s House and New Place history

Nash’s House is a Tudor-era building which takes its name from property owner and first husband of Shakespeare’s granddaughter, Thomas Nash.

Nash’s House, former home of Shakespeare‘s granddaughter Elizabeth Hall and her wealthy first husband Thomas Nash. A fine example of a 16th century home, the building is now home to Stratford’s local history museum, housing many pieces of fine Jacobean and Tudor furniture. The museum traces the town’s history from the earliest settlers to Shakespearean times.

Adjacent to Nash’s House are the foundations of New Place, which was the last home of the Bard himself. William Shakespeare purchased his retirement home of New Place in 1597, though he did not move in until 1610. At that time it was the second-largest dwelling in Stratford, and the only one built of brick.

It was at New Place that he wrote some of his works, including The Tempest, and it was here that he died in 1616. It is thought that his wife, Anne, lived at New Place until her death seven years later.

After his death, Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her husband Dr John Hall moved here from their house at Hall’s Croft. We do know that the Halls entertained Queen Henrietta, wife of King Charles I, at New Place, and that after Susanna died the house was left to her daughter Elizabeth Hall, who wed Thomas Nash, of Nash’s House, which stands immediately beside New Place.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust acquired New Place and Nash’s House in 1876 and it now features extensive gardens on the site of New Place while Nash’s House is operated as a museum.

Nash’s House and New Place today

Inside Nash’s house, visitors can travel back in time, as parts of the interior have been restored to as it was under his ownership.

The Shakespeare Memorial Garden at New Place is laid out in the traditional Elizabethan style and features, among other delights, a Mulberry Tree said to have been grown from a cutting planted by Shakespeare himself.

Getting to Nash’s House and New Place history

Shakespeare’s New Place & Nash’s House is wedged between the Mercure hotel and Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall at the southern edge of Stratford’s town centre. Most points of interest in Stratford-upon-Avon are a short walk away from this site. The nearest train station is Stratford-upon-Avon.