“Medieval Guildhall Reveals Shakespeare’s Stage: Archaeological Treasure Unearthed in King’s Lynn.”
St. George’s Guildhall, England’s oldest medieval guildhall, located in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, has recently unveiled a fascinating historical treasure during a major renovation. As craftsmen worked tirelessly to restore the aging structure, they stumbled upon a remarkable find: 600-year-old oak floorboards believed to be the last surviving remnants of a stage from the time of William Shakespeare. This historic guildhall, originally built as a religious meeting place in the early 15th century, later underwent a transformation into a theatrical venue.
Historical records have offered tantalizing clues about the bard’s connection to this venue. In 1593, amidst the closure of London’s theaters due to a devastating plague outbreak, it is documented that Shakespeare and his troupe embarked on a tour that brought them to King’s Lynn. Evidence of their performance has now resurfaced in the form of a note within the theater’s account book, revealing payment by the borough for their services.
The discovery of this ancient stage opens a window into the world of one of the most renowned playwrights in history. Michael Dobson, the director of the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, asserts that the revelation of the very boards trodden upon by Shakespeare’s troupe could be of immense value to archaeologists and historians specializing in the Elizabethan theater era.
The Guildhall, a Grade I listed building, had fallen into a state of disrepair and faced the threat of demolition before a local landowner stepped in and purchased it in 1945, subsequently transforming it into an arts center. The National Trust took over ownership in 1951, with the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk borough council now managing it. However, the site had been underutilized in recent years, only gaining momentum once it received government funding for restoration. Over the past two months, archaeologists have been diligently working to uncover the building’s historical secrets.
Beneath layers added in the 1950s and the 18th or 19th century, the archaeologists unearthed the original oak floorboards, a remarkable find in itself. These boards, nearly 30 centimeters wide and 15 centimeters thick, were ingeniously held together using wooden pegs instead of nails, indicating that shipwrights likely laid the floor, a process that would have taken approximately a year to complete.
Dr. Jonathan Clark, the archaeologist leading the project and an expert in medieval architecture, emphasized the rarity of finding such a well-preserved original floor. He noted that the construction techniques used, particularly the pegs, are characteristic of medieval craftsmanship, allowing them to date this remarkable find with confidence.
The discovery has ignited widespread excitement and anticipation within the academic community, as it has the potential to offer profound insights into the life and times of William Shakespeare. Dr. Clark even posits that this discovery could be the sole surviving example of a stage graced by Shakespeare himself. Such findings have the potential to reshape our understanding and appreciation of one of the world’s most celebrated playwrights and his enduring body of work.
