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If you've seen this in the news today, would it surprise you to know that Shakespeare was born in Lockwood, Huddersfield?
Local innkeeper Henry Hirst was such a fan of The Bard that he named is son Shakespeare, Despite being lumbered with that name, young Shakespeare Hirst inherited his father's obsession and became a well-known expert and collector of all things Shakespearean.
Shakespeare Hirst married Mary Ann Smethurst in 1876 and the couple had 5 known children:
Cordelia, Henry, Ophelia, Shakespeare Elsheimer, and Miranda. Bit of a theme going on there!
Cordelia, Henry, Ophelia, Shakespeare Elsheimer, and Miranda. Bit of a theme going on there!
As innkeepers, the Hirsts were linked to the Poets Corner Inn (Chapel Hill) and Shakespeare Hotel (Northgate), and possibly also one named The Mermaid that I haven't been able to track down yet.
The naming of his second son, Shakespeare Elsheimer Hirst, reflects the fact the he believed himself to be the owner of the only portrait of William Shakespeare painted in his lifetime, reportedly by Adam Elsheimer and dating from 1608 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Elsheimer
When Shakespeare Hirst retired, he settled in at 83 Town End, Almondbury - which he renamed "Shakespeare House" - and the Elsheimer had pride of place on the wall... in a frame that had double locks and behind special glass that was supposed to mean it couldn't be photographed!
During his lifetime, he seems to have made a tidy income exhibiting the portrait, along with other paintings by various "Old Master"s that he had acquired over the years (seemingly all without any providence whatsoever!)
Every 23 April would be celebrated with a banquet to Shakespeare in Huddersfield - here's a writeup from 1879: https://huddersfield.exposed/p/71a8
According to a newspaper article, every Sunday evening, Shakespeare Hirst would act out his favourite scenes from behind the bar:
"In the murder scene from "Othello" Mr. Hirst would grasp the beer pump handles and go through the actions of strangling."
"In the murder scene from "Othello" Mr. Hirst would grasp the beer pump handles and go through the actions of strangling."
He died suddenly on the evening of 20 May 1907. He had just settled down to read the newspaper and was in the process of "adjusting his spectacles when he expired without a word". And so it was that Shakespeare was buried at Edgerton Cemetery on 23 May 1907.
His estate was valued at around £500,000 in today's money and his family soon arranged an auction of his sizeable collection of art and books. Paintings by Wouwerman, Brouwer, Rubens, Wilkie, Turner, Titian, Rembrandt, Reynolds, Holbein, Mola, van Dyck, Teniers, and others!
