Summer of Shakespeare

To celebrate 400 years since the publication of Shakespeare’s first folio, the display at Stonyhurst will explore the history and stories of approximately 40 objects from its museum and archives, each of which have unique links to Shakespeare’s plays that feature within the first folio.

The focal point of the exhibition will be Stonyhurst’s copy of an original first folio which will be exhibited in the historical Do Room at the College.  The display will touch on the significance of St Omers Jesuit drama, and the part played by the accrual at St Omers College of Jesuit relics from all over the world, and their influence on the dramatic performances for which Stonyhurst College was so famous for.  

On display in the museum, you will find:
First folio of William Shakespeare.
Prayer books of Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth of York.
Charles Waterton’s extraordinary 19th Century natural history collections.
Rare surviving medieval and 17th Century church vestments.
​​​​​​Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s school reports.
Objects connected with the Gunpowder Plot.
Baroque silver and artworks by Durer and Rembrandt.
Joe Jackman’s WW2 Victoria Cross.
Three historic libraries with books dating from 1471, including first editions of authors such as Charles Dickens, C.S. Lewis and Gerard Manley Hopkins