Oxford Preservation Trust look after the Painted Room in Oxford – all that remains of the 13th century Crown Tavern, where Shakespeare stayed with his friend and innkeeper John Davenant. The Room is remarkable for its amazing early wall paintings, which lay hidden behind oak panelling for over 300 years and have recently been restored by OPT.

In 2013, OPT revived the Annual Shakespeare Parade to mark his birthday and his connections with Oxford. Leading figures across the town and University parade from the Lord Mayor’s Parlour at the Town Hall to the Painted Room at 3 Cornmarket celebrating the great day by raising a toast to the ‘immortal bard’ in Malmsey and Sack, sweet wine.

We may not be able to host our usual colourful parade this year, or welcome you to see inside the Painted Room, so we are taking you there virtually! Watch as OPT Director Debbie Dance presents more on the history of the Painted Room, its connection to Shakespeare and our ongoing conservation work.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Painted Room again soon, and as one of our lovely members says,

“If the wall paintings were waiting for hundreds of years behind the wood panelling before they were discovered anew, then the Painted Room will wait for all of us until it is next re-opened”.

Have you seen our Shakespeare-themed family activities or taken part in our Shakespeare birthday toast? We would love to see your creations and messages! Share them with us by tagging us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or by emailing info@oxfordpreservation.org.uk.