Hamnet's Hollywood Magic Sparks Tourism Boom in Shakespeare's Backyard!

The film 'Hamnet,' directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, is already generating a lot of excitement, with many predicting it will be a big hit at the Oscars. The movie is based on Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning 2020 novel and tells a fictional story about William Shakespeare, his wife Anne Hathaway (called Agnes in the film), and their family. With all the buzz around the film, the places where it was shot are hoping to see a boost in tourism, as fans and curious visitors want to see the real-life locations featured in the movie.

Although Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, much of 'Hamnet' was filmed in Weobley, a village in Herefordshire about 60 miles away. Richard Paterson, chief operating officer at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, believes the film will bring many benefits to the town. He says that even though the movie wasn't filmed in Stratford, it still draws attention to Anne Hathaway's cottage, a historic home where Shakespeare would have visited Anne during their early relationship. The cottage is a charming black-and-white house with a thatched roof, surrounded by a lush garden and featuring a unique moon-shaped seat. There's also a cafe across the street, making it a pleasant spot for visitors.

Other key locations in Stratford include Shakespeare's birthplace on Henley Street, which he inherited from his father, and New Place garden on Chapel Street, where Shakespeare lived for 19 years and died in 1616. Today, New Place is a garden filled with specially commissioned artworks, including a striking metal ball sculpture and benches under a large, leafless tree. Paterson says that the film and book help people understand how Shakespeare was inspired by his home and family, and he expects the town to see a noticeable increase in visitors, possibly up to 20 percent more. He believes that keeping Shakespeare's story alive is crucial, and that the film and book show how his work still matters today.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust owns five homes connected to the playwright and his family, including Anne Hathaway's cottage, Shakespeare's birthplace, his mother's farm, New Place, and Halls Croft. Paterson points out that Stratford is still much the same as it was in Shakespeare's time, so visitors can walk the same streets he did. In Herefordshire, Nick Mason, a county councillor for Weobley, says the village felt transformed during filming, with straw covering the streets and old signs hidden to make it look like the 1500s. Many of the buildings in Weobley date back to the late 15th and early 16th centuries, and the surrounding countryside is described as 'bucolic' and 'Shakespearean. ' The village has already seen an increase in visitors, and there are now Hamnet-themed walking trails, falconry, and foraging activities.

The Hamnet-inspired trail starts in Weobley and takes visitors through filming locations, across green fields and country lanes, ending in Pembridge, another village known for its historic timber-framed buildings. There's also an exhibition in the local library and museum about the making of the film. Tourism is very important for Herefordshire, and even a small increase in visitors can make a big difference for local businesses like pubs, cafes, and restaurants. Mason says that more tourism helps these places thrive and keeps the village sustainable. Local leaders are working together to promote Herefordshire and encourage people to visit and explore all it has to offer. The hope is that the 'Hamnet effect' will bring lasting benefits to the region and keep the legacy of Shakespeare alive for future generations.