Stop two of Charlotte’s tour of the Strand B pilot museums is Shakespeare’s New Place, part of Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon!
The Family Home Lost to Time is a multisensory exhibit which brings a house that no longer exists to life. Visitors can smell the smoke of the fireplace (provided by our amazing scent partners AVM Curiosities), feel the wall coverings (complete with period-specific pins!) and interact with household objects. And all this whilst engaging with brilliant co-created audio description (available on headphones, via QR codes, and as a transcription!).
Image Description: A photo showing a wooden draw attached to a wall. The drawer is open, revealing a hole which you can sniff. The front of the draw has text in a large font which tells you that the New Place had 10 hearths, and invites you to open the drawer to smell the scent of the fireplace.
Image Description: A photo showing a section of a museum panel. A square of brightly patterned wall fabric is pinned to a wall featuring the same pattern but in black and white.
Image Description: A photo of the inside of an open cupboard door. The door has a large text label which reads: Touch to discover the contents… Pewter spoon – these were chosen as christening gifts; Wooden doll – these were sold at fairs; Money pot – these were used to collect money at theatres.
I couldn’t resist running my hand over Shakespeare’s ruff every time I walked past (something that the staff assured me is a very common experience!).
Image Description: A photo showing a section of a museum panel. A green and white illustration of William Shakespeare is shown on a dark green background. Shakespeare is wearing Elizabethan clothes, half of his ruff is made out of real fabric. Text to the right invites you to touch the ruff. This is repeated in braille below.