Last year, floorboards believed to have been part of a stage the poet once walked on were discovered at St George’s Guildhall in King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
Britain’s oldest operating theatre believes it has found a 600-year-old door that may once have led to William Shakespeare’s dressing room.
Last year, floorboards believed to have been part of a stage the poet once walked on were discovered at St George’s Guildhall in King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
The first documented performances of the theatre took place in 1445, before the birth of Shakespeare, who was baptised in 1564 and died in 1616.
This year, further archaeological investigations were carried out in the theater, triggered by a strange shape in a ground floor wall.
Tim FitzHigham, creative director of St George’s Guildhall, described what was found behind the plasterboard as “stunning”.
Two noticeboards were removed, revealing an 18th-century wall. When bricks were removed from this wall, a much older archway was revealed.
Mr FitzHigham said the archway “must date from before 1405 as the medieval roof of the hall projects above it”.
“Further investigation has revealed that the arch is the door to what is believed to be the guild’s locker room,” he said.
“This room was used by members of the highest guild to dress in their finest robes before the feast upstairs.
“The guilds, similar to the members’ clubs of the 15th century, no longer used the hall and the room probably served as a dressing room or ‘dressing closet’ for travelling actors.”
During the Elizabethan era, the prop house was used by actors to change clothes and collect props.
In Shakespeare’s time, the Guildhall was often used by touring theatres.
Queen Elizabeth’s Men, a troupe of actors founded in 1583 on the orders of the Tudor Queen, performed there ten times in the late 16th century.
In 1592–1593, London’s theatres were closed due to another outbreak of the plague and Shakespeare was on tour in King’s Lynn with his troupe.
“This is another astonishing discovery at the Guildhall,” said Mr FitzHigham.
“We have a door that must have definitely been here during the years Shakespeare played here. Most likely it was the door to a room where the actors changed and kept props.
“It’s just amazing that a slight curve or strange shape in the wall has once again turned out to be something quite extraordinary.”
The work to uncover the archway was carried out in collaboration with archaeologist Dr Jonathan Clarke, plaster removal specialist Paul Wooles, the Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and the National Trust.
Dr Clarke’s research may also have identified the location of a staircase that once connected to the old house.
Dr Clarke said: “This 15th century doorframe appears to have provided access to a medium-sized, plain room and never appears to have had a door closing the arch. If necessary, the room may have been locked by a simple padlock.
“Due to its location within the Guildhall, it is the kind of room where travelling groups of players can change.
“They would have had a private room where they could put their things, change and then go upstairs to appear in their costume on the first floor.”
St. George’s Guildhall is a listed building and is considered the largest surviving medieval town hall in England.
