Shakespeare’s School

Over the weekend, I was invited to an art exhibition in Stratford-upon-Avon in which my friend was showing work. To my surprise, I found his paintings hanging in Shakespeare’s classroom.

Shakespeare’s classroom is one of those difficult to see historical attractions in Stratford-upon-Avon because the room is on the first floor of a working grammar school. As I understand it, the room at King Edward VI School is actually still used for teaching – impractical as that may be with its ancient wooden desks deeply engraved with the names of past students.

My friend’s paintings were hanging next to the foreboding teacher’s chair – a huge wooden structure at the front of the class that would have elevated Shakespeare’s teacher above his students.

It’s a supposition that Shakespeare was actually educated in this room. Many believe that Shakespeare would have been entitled to a free place at the school because his father, John Shakespeare, was a town official.

Either way, the room has been beautifully preserved and is an important part of Stratford-upon-Avon’s rich heritage.