The exact location of William Shakespeare's only London property has been pinpointed to a Blackfriars street, thanks to the discovery of an unknown floorplan.
Shakespeare expert Prof. Lucy Munro from King's College London came across the location and size of the property he bought in 1613. While it was previously thought that Shakespeare retired soon after purchasing the house, the newfound evidence suggests that he may have spent considerably more time in London than academics had believed.
This finding also clarifies that the blue plaque for Shakespeare on St Andrew's Hill is not merely 'near' his London house, but directly at the location where it once stood. Scholars have determined that Shakespeare's Blackfriars property was likely part of the 'Great Gate' at the entrance to a major 13th-century Dominican friary.
Prof. Munro uncovered three documents, two from the London Archives and one from the National Archives, that provided pivotal information regarding the property.
These newly found records include a plan created in 1668, shortly after the Great Fire of London, which confirmed the location and dimensions of Shakespeare's Blackfriars house. Interestingly, the part of the property spanning the gate was omitted from the plan due to its lack of foundation.
According to Munro, I couldn't believe it when I realized what I was looking at - the floorplan of Shakespeare's Blackfriars house. This new evidence significantly enhances the narrative of Shakespeare's life, suggesting that parts of his works, including 'Two Noble Kinsmen', may have been penned within the walls of his London residence.
The documents also detail the property's sale by Shakespeare's granddaughter in 1665, encapsulating the historical trajectory of this pivotal site.
In summary, Shakespeare's Blackfriars house covered what is now part of Ireland Yard, Burgon Street, and parts of the buildings at 5 Burgon Street and 5 St Andrew's Hill, marking a significant moment in understanding the playwright's life in London.
