Description:In 1602, Shakespeare bought 107 acres in Old Stratford, Bishopton and Welcombe. These were made up of parcels scattered through the open fields, with some of them concentrated in the area which was, in 1614, to be the scene of an attempted enclosure by a local landholder, William Combe.
The Stratford Corporation was against the scheme and, when Thomas Greene, the town clerk, heard about it, he listed those freeholders whose interests might be affected. Shakespeare tops the list with the estate which he had bought in 1602. No-one else held more than 15 acres.
His list was written on a blank page of a survey carried out in 1603.
A modernised transcript reads:
'Ancient freeholders in the fields of Old Stratford and Welcombe Mr Shakespeare: 4 yard lands, no common land nor land beyond Gospel Bush; no ground in Sandfield nor in Sloe Hill beyond Bishopton, nor any in the enclosure beyond Bishopton'.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust reference: BRU 15/1/94