Unearthing Shakespeare's London: New Map Pinpoints Bard's Abode

A newly discovered 17th-century map has pinpointed the location of the only home that legendary playwright William Shakespeare owned in London, offering fresh insights into his life and work in the city.

The scholarly find, made in the London Archives by Lucy Munro of King's College London, sheds light on Shakespeare's connection to the Blackfriars Theatre, where he was part-owner. The map details the exact location of Shakespeare's house, located in an L-shaped former medieval monastery near Blackfriars, aligning with historical accounts of his career. Munro's discovery reveals the significance of the area to Shakespeare's life and work.

Shakespeare's residence, which he left to his daughter Susanna, was sold by his granddaughter in 1665 and destroyed in the Great Fire of London a year later. Despite the destruction, Munro's findings offer a 'dazzling new sense' of Shakespeare as a London writer, enriching our view of his professional and personal life in the city.