Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is the picturesque childhood home of William Shakespeare’s wife, Anne, located in Shottery, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, England. This 15th-century thatched farmhouse offers a glimpse into Tudor rural life and the Hathaway family’s sheep-farming history.
 
The original structure dates to 1463, starting as a simple three-roomed building with cruck construction; later additions included an upper floor and chimneys by the early 17th century. Anne Hathaway was born there around 1556, and her family, starting with grandfather John Hathaway in 1542, occupied it for over 368 years across an incredible 13 generations until the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust acquired it in 1892. Even original furnishings like the Hathaway bed and courting settle remain.
 
Interesting facts...
 
The “courting settle” bench may have hosted Shakespeare’s wooing of Anne. Also lots of lovely details etched into the beams-such as daisy wheels or overlapping circles- intended to ward off evil spirits or witchcraft in the 16th century.