Shakespeare country

As mentioned in the previous post, we are currently staying in Stratford upon Avon, the place where Shakespeare ws born and died (he lived and worked in London for some time as well).
We have rented an appartment for 2 weeks here. It is very comfortable and within walking distance not only from the station (we came by train of course) but also from almost all there is to see in this little town (and from the shops and pubs).
As we have a lot of time, we will pace ourselves a bit in looking at the 'Sharespeare things'. We have already walked several times past his birthplace (it is 200m from where we are, so it is hard not to pass it on the way to the shops!).

Sharespeares birthplace

Today we visited the Holy Trinity Church where he is buried. There has been a church on this site since at least 713, but the present building dates 'only' from 1210. Shakespeare was baptised here in 1564 and buried in 1616. The register entries for both baptism and burial are displayed in the church. Next to his grave are the graves of his wife and other familiy members. He was a 'lay rector' which gave him the privilege to be buried inside here. There is an original first edition of the King James bible here, which dates from 1611, Shakespeare would have read from this very same book. It is very much a 'working church' and we found that they have succceeded extremely well in preserving the identity of the working church and not having alowed it to become secondary to the grave of the Bard. Elsewhere in Stratford, that has not been so successful: It is a very attractive town on its own accord but the Shakespeare connection has taken over quite a bit too heavily (at least, that is what we think!).

The Shakespeare grave (second from left). The leftmost one is where his wife lies, the other three are his daughter, his daughters husband and her father in law.