黑洞社区

As we recognise the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, otherwise known as the 鈥楤ard鈥� on 23 April, I鈥檇 like to take some time to reflect on the historical importance of one of London鈥檚 most iconic buildings and how Shakespeare explored property themes in his plays.

The Globe Theatre, originally named the 鈥榃ooden O鈥� based on its perceived shape and the wooden building materials used to construct it, was stage to a large number of Shakespeare鈥檚 most loved plays including Macbeth, Othello and Hamlet. In June 1613, the theatre was destroyed by misdirected cannon fire during a performance of Henry VIII but was quickly rebuilt. The Globe Theatre remained the home for Shakespeare鈥檚 company until the closure of all the theatres under England鈥檚 Puritan administration in 1642. Following its cessation, the theatre was demolished to make way for tenements in 1644.

Thankfully in 1949, the project to rebuild Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe was realised by the American actor and director Sam Wanamaker after his first visit to London, and around 48 years later, after years of fundraising and research the theatre was completed, using techniques and materials which were scrupulously accurate to the original building. Green oak was shaped according to 16th-century practice and assembled in two-dimensional bays on the London Bankside site while oak laths and staves were used to support the lime plaster mix. The building was capped by the first thatch roof used on a London building since the Great Fire of 1666. Adapted to meet contemporary regulations with a fire proof barrier and external staircases, Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe today provides a stunning example of the beauty of timber construction and historical assembly methods which pay homage to the world鈥檚 most famous English language writer.

Let鈥檚 now turn our attention to the Bard鈥檚 many references to property explored throughout his works. As we search through a cast of soldiers, politicians, merchants, scholars, medics and law makers we find a surveyor to the Duke of Buckinghamshire in Shakespeare鈥檚 Henry VIII.

鈥淚f I know you well, you were the Duke鈥檚 surveyor and lost your office on the complaint of the tenants. Take good heed you charge not in your spleen a noble person and spoil your nobler soul.鈥� Henry VIII Act I Scene II

In Richard II, Shakespeare tells the story of a king who dares to violate his subjects鈥� strongly held beliefs about rights in land.

鈥淲hen we mean to build we first survey the plot, then draw the model. And when we see the figure of the house then we must rate the cost.鈥� Richard II Act V Scene V

Meanwhile, The Merchant of Venice explores the problem of inheritance and focuses on the different property obligations among family, friends and business associates.

鈥淣ay, take my life and all; pardon not that; you take my house, when you do take the prop that doth sustain my house; you take my life, when you do take the means whereby I live.鈥� The Merchant of Venice, Act IV Scene I

It is clear that Shakespeare had detailed knowledge of property related issues as well as leasing, landholding and law. In fact, recent analysis of his will, which is on display at Somerset House, London, shows that in his personal life he was a business entrepreneur and property investor. For instance, as a shareholder in the Globe Theatre where many of his plays were written and performed, Shakespeare obtained a profit from ticket sales; an entirely new way of doing business at the time.

The link between property and Shakespeare is also present in the modern day. For example, The Pyramus & Thisbe Club set up in 1974 by leading party wall surveyors, got its name from the characters of Pyramus and Thisbe in Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥楢 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream鈥� in which two lovers are separated by a wall and come to a sad end as a result of the dispute between their fathers.  

鈥淭hou wall o wall o sweet and lovely wall show me thy clink.鈥� A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream Act V Scene I

With such an influence upon the English language, it鈥檚 easy to see why the Bard鈥檚 legacy is still felt around the world today. As a property professional I appreciate the historic significance and structural beauty of Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe but I also appreciate how many of his plays cleverly depict the interaction between people and property. Perhaps Shakespeare was a secret party wall surveyor in his spare time? I鈥檒l guess we will never know.