William Shakespeare's family has had a long association with the area around Stratford Upon Avon. His mother, Mary Arden, grew up on a farm just three miles outside the city center, in the small village of Wilmcote. She was the eighth child of Robert Arden, a well-to -do farmer. Richard Shakespeare, William's grandfather, was a tenant former on the property. Mary married Richard's son John in 1557 and they had eight children (William was the third oldest). When Mary's father died, she inherited the property. Because it has remained a working farm over the centuries, the property has been well preserved. What we see today, is actually two farms. That, which was believed to have been Mary Arden's farm really belonged to a neighbor, Adam Palmer. When the adjacent farm was purchased in 2000 in order to preserve the area from development, research discovered that this was the true Arden farm. Carbon dating revealed that the farm house was originally constructed in 1514 and extended several times over the years. The combined properties provide wonderful insights into life in the late 16th century. We love this stuff!
The combined properties of Mary Arden's and Adam Palmer's farms.
Looking at the rear of the main houses. When you campare these two pictures, notice that the timbers on the front of the buildings are more numerous and closer together. The families were very social status conscious. They wanted to show off to passers by that they could afford the expensive timbers. However, knowing that no one but the families and the farm workers would see the rear of the property, they cut corners with fewer timbers spaced further apart.
Preparing lunch for those working the farm.
The family dining room also served as the "guest bedroom". Tradition dictated that this bed was never used by the family, only for guests, as it was the best bed in the house.
This is where the family and staff ate their every day, informal meals.
Children generally slept in their parents' room (in the trundle bed at the end) until they were old enough to work the farm. They then joined the older children in either the boys' or girls' bedroom...
...and these were usually just mattresses on the floor.
As can be seen here, the farm had a utilitarian set up with the out buildings surrounding a central courtyard behind the main house.
Nothing went to waste. Dried hay, animal waste products, and leaves from the gardens were put into a composite heap to create fertilizer for later crops.
There even is a blacksmith shop on the farm...
...as well as a barn for the wagons.
Apples were mashed on this grinding wheel to make apple cider.
Both the Arden's and the Palmers relied upon organic farming techniques.
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