Mary Ardens House
The reputed home of William Shakespeare ’s mother is maintained by the Shakespeare’s Birthplace trust and for many visitors still falls on the Shakespeare trail.
In the 1930s the Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust bought the timber-fronted farmhouse thought to once be home to Shakespeare’s mother Mary Arden. But after decades of debate it was revealed that they had bought the wrong house. Instead of the house once belonging to Robert Arden, they had in fact bought Palmers Farm (pictured).
The real ‘Mary Arden’s House’ is believed to be at Glebe Farm nearby. But both sites are owned by the Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust and can be visited. Glebe Farm was owned by Robert Arden a local gentryman, father of Mary Arden, who is thought to have lived here until she married John Shakespeare, a successful tradesman. In 1564 she gave birth to William, who would become England ’s foremost playwright.
You can also visit the Shakespeare Countryside Museum, with exhibits on local country life tracing the last four centuries and a collection of rare farm breeds.
Mary Arden’s House is located about 3 miles west of Stratford in the village of Wilmcote.
