The exact location of William Shakespeare's only London property has been pinpointed to a Blackfriars street, following the discovery of an unknown floorplan. Shakespeare expert Prof Lucy Munro from King's College London identified the location and size of the property he purchased in 1613.
Previously believed to have retired shortly after buying the house, recent academic analysis suggests that the playwright may have spent more time in London during his final years than previously thought. Furthermore, this finding indicates that the blue plaque marking Shakespeare's historical presence is located directly on the site where his house once stood.
The property was believed to be part of the Great Gate at the entrance to the renowned 13th-century Blackfriars friary. Prof Munro uncovered three essential documents: two from the London Archives and one from the National Archives, which provided detailed information about the site.
I was conducting research when I stumbled upon the floorplan of Shakespeare's Blackfriars house. It has been assumed there was little evidence left to find regarding its specifics, so this crucial finding revives interest in the property and its history, said Munro.
One document, drawn up in 1668 (two years post-Great Fire of London), outlined the precise location and dimensions of Shakespeare's house, with some sections omitted due to a lack of foundation after the fire. Munro posited, This house was close to Shakespeare's workplace at the Blackfriars theatre, and new evidence suggests that some of his works may have been penned there.\
The other documents detail the property's sale by Shakespeare's granddaughter in 1665 and the area encompassed by these holdings spans parts of present-day Ireland Yard and St Andrew's Hill. This newfound knowledge adds depth and context to our understanding of Shakespeare's life while in London.
