Stratford-Upon-Avon: Shakespeare's Houses

Nash's house and New Place are situated on Chapel street in the centre of Stratford Upon Avon opposite the Guild Chapel.

Nash's house was owned by the first husband of Shakespeare's grandaughter Sir Thomas Nash. The house is next to the site of Shakespeare's last residence in Stratford, called New Place. Shakespeare lived in New Place from 1597 until his death in 1616. New Place was an impressive house and was one of the largest houses in Stratford but was sadly demolished in 1759.

The history of the demise of New Place reads like one of Shakespeare's plays with the vilain played by the eccentric Reverend Francis Gastrell. Gastrell who has acquired the house sometime after Shakespeare's death had grown increasingly annoyed by the visitors who flocked to see the house where the famous playwright had died. One night in 1759 he cut down a mulberry tree in the garden which was said to have been planted by Shakespeare himself. This was an attraction to many a visitor who wanted to take cuttings from a tree planted by the great playwright himself. When the following morning locals saw what Gastrell had done they smashed his windows in angry retaliation. Gastrell was annoyed by what he saw as disruption by visitors, and by tax demands that he thought should be reduced due to the constant visitors his property attracted. He also made the argument that as he only lived in Stratford part time he should only pay part of the tax demanded. In a final act before leaving Stratford for good Gastrell ordered New Place to be demolished and tragically left nothing but a pile of rubble behind him when he left. It is said that as a result of his actions anyone named Gastrell was banned from living in Stratford again!

Finally although only the foundations of New Place remain the surrounding grounds which encompass all of Shakespeare's original estate feature a lovely Elizabethan Knot Garden which has been based on designs typical of Shakespeare's time. The gardens exit through a turn style into a public space called the Great Garden which is a beautful public garden ideal for those sunny days and made even more special by a series of statues inspired by Shakespeare's plays.