Trent Severn Waterway Locks, Ontario, Shakespeare’s Sonnets, Kensington Pottery and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Earthenware producer on the Kensington Works, Hanley (1922-1937) and subsequently at Trubshaw Cross, Burslem. Mr. Gerald Wooden, the managing director of the Arthur Wooden Group acquired a controlling curiosity within the Kensington Pottery in about 1937, subsequently transferring the pottery to the Longport web site of Value Bros. (Burslem) Ltd. The 2 companies have been merged in January 1962 and subsequently operated as Value & Kensington Potteries. (Kensington Pottery Ltd, was nonetheless listed as an lively member of the Arthur Wooden Group in 1965, though not in 1967).
The Kensington Pottery was primarily a producer of fancy earthenware (animal fashions, collectible figurines, decorative teapots and novelties), but additionally produced teapots and normal home earthenware. The Kensington Pottery Ltd used the commerce title ‘Kensington Ware’ and the mark was a Staffordshire knot enclosing the initials ‘KPB’. See the entries for Wooden (Arthur Wooden & Son (Longport) Ltd) and for the Value & Kensington Potteries Ltd.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon is the childhood residence of William Shakespeare‘s spouse, and the location the place they started their early courtship. At present it stays the identical wattle-and-daub construction, transporting guests again in time to Shakespearean England.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage historical past
Anne Hathaway is legendary for being the spouse of William Shakespeare, one of the crucial well-known playwrights within the historical past of the English language.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage was constructed as a farmhouse in 1463 and initially consisted of simply 3 rooms, 2 of which nonetheless survive right this moment within the type of the kitchen and parlour. Anne’s grandfather John Hathaway was the primary to reside there as a tenant sheep farmer, and Anne herself was born there in 1556.
Following her father Richard’s dying in 1581, Anne’s brother Bartholomew inherited the farm, increasing it with an higher flooring and new chimneys. It’s virtually sure that the Hathaways knew the Shakespeares and it’s doubtless that the pair spent a while collectively on the cottage, earlier than in November 1582 Anne and William have been married whereas she was 26 and he 18.
This age distinction, alongside the truth that Anne was already pregnant with their youngster, has brought about many to suspect that they’d a ‘shotgun wedding ceremony’ as a way to preserve their honour, nevertheless there’s little else to counsel this. The pair went on to have 3 youngsters collectively and following Shakespeare’s retirement in 1613 he moved again to Stratford-upon-Avon to be with Anne.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage remained within the Hathaway household for 13 generations, till in 1846 monetary troubles pressured them to promote. In 1892 it was bought by the Shakespeare Birthplace Belief, who run it as a museum right this moment.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage right this moment
At present Anne Hathaway’s Cottage hosts a spread of fascinating gadgets and tales to find. Highlights embody a seventeenth century chair gifted to the Hathaway household by Anne and Shakespeare’s granddaughter, and the ornate Hathaway Mattress made between 1580 and 1650.
Exterior, the sculpture backyard options works impressed by Shakespeare’s most beloved performs, whereas the Cottage Gardens include acres of nice orchards and greenery.
The Cottage can also be a 10-minute drive to Shakespeare’s Birthplace, the place guests could proceed to discover the good playwright’s life.