Over the weekend, I went on a day trip with the other students from my program to Stratford Upon Avon and Kenilworth Castle. For those of you who don’t know, Stratford Upon Avon is Shakespeare’s hometown. Kenilworth castle is a lovely ruined castle in Warwickshire.
We arrived in Stratford before lunch and had just enough time to go on a walking tour of the town. I didn’t realize Stratford was so small. You can apparently walk from one end of the town to the other in ten minutes, according to our guide. The town was filled with old Elizabethan style houses, many of which are not the original but were rebuilt inspired by that style. We saw Shakespeare’s school that he attended six days a week from 6am -6pm! And I thought I had long school days. Unfortunately, the school had scaffolding all over it so we really only saw a tiny bit of it. We also saw the site of Shakespeare’s second home, New Place, but that was unfortunately torn down by the most recent owner who got sick of tourists poking around his house every day…to which my response is: How rude! and, Then why would you buy it?
The highlight of Stratford was seeing the house Shakespeare was born in and grew up in. It was still intact and was occupied with several re-enactors who had some fun facts to share with us about every room. For example, one small bed could fit three children and they used large wooden pegs in holes in the side of the frame to keep the kids from rolling off the bed. The pegs could also be used to beat out lumps in the mattress. Or, you know, to beat up robbers who came climbing in through the second story window. Each room was set up like it would have been in Shakespeare’s day and we even saw Shakespeare’s father’s glove making workshop.
We arrived in Stratford before lunch and had just enough time to go on a walking tour of the town. I didn’t realize Stratford was so small. You can apparently walk from one end of the town to the other in ten minutes, according to our guide. The town was filled with old Elizabethan style houses, many of which are not the original but were rebuilt inspired by that style. We saw Shakespeare’s school that he attended six days a week from 6am -6pm! And I thought I had long school days. Unfortunately, the school had scaffolding all over it so we really only saw a tiny bit of it. We also saw the site of Shakespeare’s second home, New Place, but that was unfortunately torn down by the most recent owner who got sick of tourists poking around his house every day…to which my response is: How rude! and, Then why would you buy it?
The highlight of Stratford was seeing the house Shakespeare was born in and grew up in. It was still intact and was occupied with several re-enactors who had some fun facts to share with us about every room. For example, one small bed could fit three children and they used large wooden pegs in holes in the side of the frame to keep the kids from rolling off the bed. The pegs could also be used to beat out lumps in the mattress. Or, you know, to beat up robbers who came climbing in through the second story window. Each room was set up like it would have been in Shakespeare’s day and we even saw Shakespeare’s father’s glove making workshop.
We had lunch in Stratford and moved onto Kenilworth Castle on our way back to London. Kenilworth castle was a picturesque romantic ruin. It was made out of beautiful orangey-brown stone and was covered in blankets of moss and weeds. Large chunks of the walls were simply smashed away leaving a lovely, craggy, mystical pattern in the rock. Needless to say, there were many opportunities for the perfect Facebook profile picture! We definitely didn’t get enough time here because we ran out of time to see most of the second building of the castle. We did however get to go into the garden that had been recreated to look like the garden in Queen Elizabeth’s day when she used to visit the castle with her lover. Scandalous!
A couple other highlights of the week: I saw Richard II at The Globe Theatre and Richard was played by Charles Edwards who plays Michal Gregson on Downton Abbey! He was phenomenal! So well done! And I got a free ticket from my professor to see War Horse…again! I’ve already seen it but there is no way I’m passing up another chance to see that fantastic show!
Top British facts/oddities include:
Lots of pictures added about Stratford and Kenilworth Castle. Find them in the October Gallery!
Thank you!
Top British facts/oddities include:
- The term “Box Office” is derived from Shakespeare’s day when there used to be a box where you dropped your penny in to pay to see the show and it was taken to an office later to be counted. The office was later referred to as the box office. (fun fact from weekend tour guide)
- The word “curfew” comes from the Old French word couvrefeu, which meant, “cover your fire”. There was a bell rung every night when it was time to cover your fire because it was getting dark and that bell was called the curfew bell. (fun fact from weekend tour guide)
- “To go” (as in fries and a burger to go) is “take away” here no matter where you go. You either dine in or take away. There is no to go.
- Generalization: it seems fairly uncommon to use a fitted sheet or a set of sheets in a temporary living area. In our flat, we have a full sheet that is simply tucked around the mattress and then a comforter as a blanket. No top sheet. I saw this in my hostel in Scotland too so I assume it is fairly common.
- Porta Potty is called a Portaloo
Lots of pictures added about Stratford and Kenilworth Castle. Find them in the October Gallery!
Thank you!