The School can trace its origins to May 1295, when it was established by the Guild of the Holy Cross.

From the KES website: ‘In the 1570s, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, William Shakespeare was educated in a room in the Upper Guildhall.  In what is still known as ‘Big School’, from the age of seven Shakespeare would have been taught Latin, Rhetoric and perhaps Greek. Lessons began with prayers at six o’clock in the morning during summer, and continued until 5 o’clock in the afternoon. In winter, although boys were expected to bring their own candles, the poor light meant a shorter day lasting from seven o’clock.’

The school room is open to the public, and forms the centre of an exhibition on the early years of Shakespeare’s life.

Building