Anne Hathaway’s Cottage stands in Shottery, a small village near Stratford-upon-Avon. Although it is called a cottage, it was originally a large farmhouse belonging to the Hathaway family. Anne Hathaway, the future wife of William Shakespeare, grew up there in the 16th century.
The house was built in the late medieval period, with parts of the timber frame dating back to the 1400s. Shakespeare is believed to have visited Anne there before they married in 1582. For many generations, the Hathaway family continued to live in the house, preserving its connection to Shakespeare’s personal life.
Today, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is one of the most famous Shakespeare-related sites in England. Visitors come to see its thatched roof, historic rooms, old furniture and romantic gardens, which help tell the story of Anne Hathaway, her family and the world in which Shakespeare lived.