Women and Circuits of Tourism in Stratford-upon-Avon

This chapter examines the social, familial, and commercial networks of women who pioneered the Shakespeare tourist industry in Stratford-upon-Avon, from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. Frequently described as "caretakers," this title belies the significant contributions of the many women who initiated and performed the practices of tourism in Stratford-upon-Avon, while juggling domestic and financial responsibilities, and crafted legacies of economic opportunities for later generations of women. From Shakespeare's Birthplace to Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the major Shakespeare properties in Stratford-upon-Avon owe their heritage of tourism to women who recognized the power of the "Shakespeare brand," the expectations of tourists related to Shakespeare, and the potential for lucrative income based on a growing field of what is now called heritage tourism.