CONSERVATION work is set to begin at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has secured a £244,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support a major programme of conservation work at the internationally recognised historic building in Shottery.
The project forms part of SBT’s wider multi-year programme of planned conservation across the Shakespeare family homes, ensuring these globally significant buildings are protected for future generations.
Work at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage will commence shortly and continue until March 2027. The cottage will remain open throughout the programme, allowing visitors to see conservation work taking place in real time and gain a deeper understanding of the specialist skills required to care for historic buildings.
The project will include essential repair and conservation works to the Grade I listed building, which dates largely from the 15th century and welcomes visitors from across the world each year. The programme will also create new opportunities for apprenticeships, training, volunteering and public engagement linked to heritage conservation.
Mark Ratcliffe, SBT’s head of estates, said: “Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is one of the most important surviving historic homes associated with Shakespeare and his family. This funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will allow us to undertake essential conservation work to protect the building for generations to come, while also giving visitors a rare opportunity to experience conservation in action.
“The project forms part of our long-term commitment to caring for the Shakespeare family homes through a planned and sustainable programme of conservation. We are extremely grateful to National Lottery players for making this support possible.”
Liz Bates, from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: “Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is an internationally significant heritage site with a powerful connection to England’s literary and cultural history. We are pleased to support the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust with this important conservation project, which will help safeguard the building while also providing opportunities for people to engage with traditional conservation skills and heritage learning.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy and learn from this remarkable place for many years to come.”
