Shakespeare and Robert Dudley

Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire (Oct 30th 2006)
Lord Leycester’s Hospital, Warwick, Warwickshire (Nov 1st 2006)
Warwick St Mary’s Church, Warwick, Warwickshire (Nov 1st 2006)

So many fascinating places and with such great historic links. Stratford is a lovely place full stop but seeing where Shakespeare was born was superb, It just makes all those boring school lessons come to life. Its inspired me to read some of his work.

After going to Kenilworth at the weekend and reigniting my interest in Elizabethan England, we had to go to see Robert Dudley’s grave in St Mary’s Warwick, and it was worth the visit. What a memorial to him and his third wife Lettice. It was quite a moment seeing where he was buried. Then to see the tomb of his 3 year old child really made it an interesting tour of the church.
The crypt with ducking stool and the Greville tombs are two more highlights.

Also in Warwick is the Lord Leycester Hospital, established in 1571 by Robert Dudley and now lived in by ex servicemen. it’s an amazing complex of tudor buildings with a chapel in the Westgate of the town, a great hall, museum and garden area. Interesting to see Warwick from a different angle and to work out where the great fire of 1694 started, in a bakers again! A fascinating day.

An entry in the visitor's book at the church was for Robert Dudley from the USA, the GGGGGGG Grandson of Lord Leicester....... hmmmm