William Shakespeare buys 107 acres of land in Stratford, 1 May 1602

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Date:1st of May 1602

Description:Shakespeare, once he had become a man of means, had clearly been toying with the idea of buying some land in or near Stratford since 1598, but it was not until 1602 that he acted, buying from a local landowning family, the Combes, 107 acres in the open fields of Old Stratford, Welcombe and Bishopton. For this he paid £320.

Two deeds were drawn up to record the purchase, one to be given to Shakespeare and the other to the Combes. This one, with one tag seal, was clearly the one Shakespeare was meant to have signed before being handed to the Combes. Perhaps due to his absence in London, this was never done, and it remained amongst his papers together with the copy signed by the Combes.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust reference: ER 27/1


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1560s
John Shakespeare, High Bailiff of Stratford-upon-Avon, 1569
John Shakespeare, High Bailiff of Stratford-upon-Avon, 1569

Minutes of a meeting of the Stratford Corporation, 7 September 1569: 'Mr John Shakysper ...

1590s
'Mr Shaxsper' sells stone to the Stratford Corporation, 1597/8 - detail
'Mr Shaxsper' sells stone to the Stratford Corporation, 1597/8 - detail

Entry in the chamberlains' accounts submitted to the Stratford Corporation for the ...

1610s
Survey of leaseholders on the manor of Old Stratford, c. 1603. Page 1
Survey of leaseholders on the manor of Old Stratford, c. 1603. Page 1

In 1603, a survey was made of leaseholders of land owned by the Corporation. This ...

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Donor ref:ER 27/1 (18/10043)

Source: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust - Records

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