Shakespeare Dig Stratford National Treasures

400 years ago William Shakespeare lived and died here in what was one

of the grandest houses in Stratford-upon-Avon. Tonight we are

going to try to imagine what life was like for the world's greatest

playwright. From the home of William Shakespeare, welcome to

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Hello and welcome to National

Treasures Live. So far on National Treasures Live we've visited a

medieval castle, a 19th century warship, and tonight we're

celebrating our greatest cultural treasure. The man I think might be

the most important person we've ever produced, William Shakespeare.

Tonight, we're looking at what's left of the house he lived in when

he died and where he's thought to have written some of the world's

best known plays. They are doing such amazing work here. Let's have

a proper look at where we are on this dig. This was called New Place

and Shakespeare was already becoming famous and wealthy when he

bought it. We'll be getting our hands dirty tonight and Sian is

particularly excited. I am. I've been on a few dig s. I personally

cannot wait to get down there and find something. The best thing

about this dig is that anyone and everyone is getting involved, like

ten-year-old Ellis. He's been so inspired by this dig he's convinced

his mum and dad to let him dig up their own back yard. We'll show you

results later. Also tonight I will be doing my

best to explain to Michael Douglas why his home town is so

unbelievably special. And Ruby Wax looks at the reality of life in

Victorian asylums. Also tonight with most of the UK about to enjoy

a bank holiday weekend we would like you to tell us which places

you would consider to be national treasures that perhaps other people

could visit this weekend. Lets us know your historical gems by e-mail

- [email protected], or follow us on Twitter at

@bbctreasures and we'll share them later. William Shakespeare lived

here from 1597 so some of his best play could have been written here.

That's if you believe they were written by Shakespeare. There's a

controversial film coming out later this year that William Shakespeare

might not have been all he seems. Hollywood has always revered the

Bard. This autumn a new film wants that Cho change. What if I told you

Shakespeare never wrote a single word? In October the film Anonymous

will claim the Earl of Oxford is the real author. The courtier of

Queen Elizabeth was arrestcratic, highly educated and well travelled.

Shakespeare wasn't, so critics denounce him as a fraud. William

Shakespeare was an opportunist and entrepreneur. He made a living from

the writing of others and held the pour. Nonsense say the purists.

at a loss frankly why anyone would question such matters. So who is

right? William Shakespeare, the man from stat Ford, was born in this

house in 1564.,000 son of a glove maker rose to become such a

celebrated writer is one of the greatest mysteries of British

history. Underneath the Bard's birthplace were priceless

Shakespearean artefacts but what evidence links the man to the

material? Paul I'm blown away. I don't think I've ever seen a

collection of documents this valuable altogether. We are looking

at some of the crown jewels of Shakespeare studies. This is the

parish register from his baptism in 1564. His name is in Latin. And

this is the first time his name appears in print. This is his great

poem, which was Venus and adorn is. That's when his name -- Adonis.

That's when his name breaks as a great poet. This is the first

collection of Shakespeare's work. It is one of only a few surviving

copies. It was published in 15 23. It is the first time they've been

gathered together. You get this amazing tribute, to the memory of

my beloved, the author, Mr William Shakespeare. How available is this

first edition? If it weren't for this book, we wouldn't have half of

Shakespeare's plays. No Macbeth, Anthony 57 Cleopatra or Coreolanus.

So where did the idea come from that he wasn't responsible for this

work? It was snobbery. This was a country lad doing good and we

should rejoice in that. Critics still claim he was taking credit

for work he didn't write. In June, some of the world's leading

authorities on Shakespeare joined film makers to debate his

authorship. Record after record tells us we are dealing with a

rather unpleasant, not particularly well educated, but an opportunistic

businessman and not the writer of many great works. The genius of

William Shakespeare is untraceable. Others believe his genius is God

given. The work is so utterly extraordinary it does defy

comprehension that any one man could have written so much of such

extraordinary quality, but some people are very good at these

things and some people aren't. William Shakespeare was. Get over

it. Even so, some things are still puzzling me. Both alike in dignity.

In fair Verona where we lay our scene... No diaries in

Shakespeare's own hand have come to like. Only six signatures survive.

Three of those are on his own will. He famously left his wife, Anne, he

second best bed. Amazingly there is no mention of poems and plays. Why

wasn't this great body of literature included in his will?

Holy Trinity Church Stratford. In the church is a bust of him with

quill and writing pair. So why does the only contemporary sketch depict

him holding a bag of grain it? Implies he was a tradesman, not an

author. The debate will no doubt rage on, questioning Shakespeare's

link to the poems and plays that made his name. Perhaps we'll leave

the final word to those inscribed on his grave. It says blessed be

the man that spares these stones and cursed be he that moves my

bones. This seems to be saying, let it be. In that way, perhaps even in

death someone is still watching the Bard's back.

I was maizeed to learn some of the heavyweights that are so-called

anti-Stratfordians. They include Sigmund Freud, Mark Twain, Orson

Wells. Did he write those plays? Yes. Yes. Yes. What do you all

thing? Yes. No. One no. I think they are pretty unanimous hyper.

You say that. There was a lone voice saying no. Most people of

course are going to believe Shakespeare wrote those plays. One

of the reasons for the lack of doubt is that lack of documentation

about his personal life. No notes, journals or diaries. Being here

tells us more about the man. There are foundations here to part of the

house. Where we are standing is the courtyard. With us is Paul. And

also Will Mitchell. Tell us why the courtyard is so important. Why are

we here? Because it is an area which has been very undisturbed.

Everywhere we dig here we are finding new information. What would

you like to find? The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is passionate

about finding out about Shakespeare. There was a dig in the 1660s of

somebody should played here as a child, who remembered the windows

being engraved with witty sayings, and he said he was blessed with

some of the achievements. Shall we look down here? We are finding new

things all the time. There's animal bone for example. We've got a real

mixture of animal bones. Pigs. We haven't got an idea of what people

were eating at the time. Eaten and thrown away. There is an oyster

shell here. And there are pieces here, a pot. What does this tell

us? A pot from around the time we are looking for, mid 1500s. It

tells us they were using pots from the local area. A key fob. That's a

bit later on, but still interesting. And here, really exciting, a dice.

Yes, and this really tells us what people were doing in the pastimes,

playing games. It may have been made on the site here. Paul, what

do you think what we've discovered so far totals us about the man?

has shown us about New Place that we didn't know, the size of the

house. He was a man of considerable means. He invested in land in

Stratford. I hope we find things that confirm that wealthy status we

know he had. There won't be any manuscripts here? Possibly not.

They wouldn't have lasted and they were kept by the. I think you want

a trowel Paul. For this glass. I will get scraping. Keen to get

stuck Some of the things we've seen have been found by enthusiastic

amateurs. That's the really exciting thing about this dig.

Margaret, you found the key fob. was fantastic find. That's the

great thing, people like me and Margaret, with no real training,

can sift and look through the mud and see if there are things the

archaeologists might have missed. The most infamous sifter of all in

these parts is young Ellis. You've been sifting for quite a while.

How long? Since I came, one-and-a- half years ago. You come once a

week, once a month? Twice a week. You must love it here. Yes. It is

like home. Like a home from home. The thing about you is you've done

a bit of addition elsewhere. You got the bug and went elsewhere.

Whereabouts? At home. In the back garden. What does your dad think

about this this? Very encouraging. He's kept it tidy and we've all

enjoyed it. A bit of a mess? really. He's very professional.

are an extraordinary young man. Are these your finds? What are your

favourites? This bit of medieval pottery. That's the kind of thing

they would have found here, the same period? Yes. A lovely bit of

colour. This is a gun handle. It would have been in a lady's handbag.

For protection. A pistol Yes. Very exciting. That was in your garden?

Yes. A tiny gun. What else? A bit of chimney, some other part, a

floor tile. Medieval pottery. This is my first find. Are you going to

become an archaeologist? I think so. Have you found stuff here as well?

Yes, I found a bone button with a brass cover and a pig's jaw.

are an incredible young man and you are also a concert-level guitarist.

Extraordinary. If you've dug your garden at home, let us know. Send

us picture. Stratford is famous around the

world as the home of some of the greatest literature ever written.

What I love about this country is there are so many other places

across it that have shaped the history of us and the entire world.

I've tried to explain that to Doug Doug doufplgt we went to his home

We are now lost. Don't talk to me about GPS. We'll go over there a

bit. You hit the kerb. Recognise this? I do recognise it, you have

brought me back to Preston. I thought we were going to tour the

whole of Britain. You brought me back it my hometown much I have

been here before. Ha is the point. History happens in all of our back

yards, not just in Palaces and Kaszles. You don't think it's

interesting, because you grew up here. Prston changed the world

forever. It's effects are being felt until this day. You are going

to talk about the industrial revolution, aren't you? Yes, I am.

I remember doing the industrial revolution at school and being

totally bored. I find it hard to believe he's going to make me

really interested in this. Look at him back there, with his map, you

know, doing his work homework. If he can make Preston exciting, you

know, get me interested and engadgeed in, it I'll be delighted

basically. It would give me a reason to come home. This is the

heart of industrial Preston. That is the car park I used to park in

when I worked at the airport. Little did you know you were

walking in the footsteps of heros. Down one of these streets is the

home of one of the most important British engineers, inventors,

businessman of all-time. A man who changed the world. I wonder if

someone will say that about me one day? I doubt it. A bit harsh! What

did this guy do? This guy, Michael, is one of the most important

humanes who ever lived. Inside this house a man called Richard

ArkWright produced a spin that allowed you to spin more cotton

than before. Previously, clothes were made by craftsman in cottage

industries. Mass production was invented in this house. It shows

big things can happen in modest surroundings, lesson for all of us.

Do you know how old he was when he He made that invention and made

mass production possible, that led to these mills. 3,000 of these

mills in Lancashire alone. What happened? Why is it derelict and is

not producing stuff? The rest of the world also built factories.

They do it cheaper. The factories exist, but not in Britain. If I was

born 200 years ago I would have ended up working in that place like

that. Not sure would you have knead through infancy, to be honest.

do you I get the feeling you wouldn't have worked in a place

like that. We knead here, with your driving. Industrial revolution went

from strength to strength, not just about textiles. This is a temple

dedicated to railway engines. Before these trains came along,

most people would live and die within 30 miles of where they were

born. What relation does that bear on the industrial revolution.

could sell over the world? Why did we invent these cotton mills and

machines and trains? One thing led to another. As one invention laid

into another. We discovered how to lay railway tracks let as's put a

steam engine on it and see if that works. Best way to learn about

history is experience it for yourself. I always wanted to go on

a steam engine. The idea you can live miles away begins because of

these engines. It must have been revolutionary? It is. America, Asia,

Africa, Europe covered in British Rail ways. Built, planned and

engineered by the Brits. Changed I had no idea that Preston would be

so interesting. Everywhere has a story. There is not a town or city

in this country that something extraordinary didn't happen. Where

are we going next? Who knows? Who knows where they will be going.

More of Dan and Michael's magical mystery tour next week. I don't

want to sound like Michael Douglas. A lot of people on twitter has been

asking us as well, there is not a huge amount of house left, is

there? The house has gone. If you want to imagine what it is like 400

years ago, with television trickery we can show you. This is what New

Place might have looked like at the end of the 16th century. Look at

that. A substantial house. It had about 20 rooms. It was significant.

It was called Great House by the people of Stratford. Shakespeare

would have passed this house every sengele day, as a young boy, on his

way to school. To come back here as a man of means, actor and a

playwright, to say, I will buy this house now, it must have had added

status. What happened, it's tragic it's not here any more. He passed

it to his daughter and she passed it to her daughter. That is where

the Shakespeare line ends. It changed hands a few times.

Renovation was done. A couple bought it who had other property.

They decide to demolish it because they didn't want to pay the tax.

That is why we are looking at what we are looking at. A lot of people

have been asking, is there more digging to be done? This would have

been Shakespeare's living quarters, servant waters -- quarters out the

front. There is a free in the way of the dig. There is a mulberry

tree. There is a tree preservation order on that. No more digging for

now. The good stuff will be found. Of course it is. We - as the series

has been asking we have been asking famous people to explore what have

interested them. Ruby Wax looks at the horrifying treatments through

illness. Dreaded by many, Britain's 1th century asylums provides a

unique window on how Britain housed and treated the mentally ill. They

were big business. The whole thing was a gotic horror. Was there some

method to this madness? From Victorian times, through to the

20th Century, disturbing treatments like draining blood, inducing

vomiting and shock therapy was common. Why did doctors turn to

using such extreme measures? Basically, because they were

clueless. I mean, they were faced with this massive task of dealing

with lunacy, in the 19th century they developed things like machine

that is would push them into cold water until they drowned. The idea,

if you reached reached a point of a near day experience it could alter

their consciousness. Did they not gate clue when people were dying?

Most of the treatments were useless or harmful. That was a Kew to try

something something extreme. Benjamin Rush believed lunacy was

to do with flux tuewaitions in blood flow to the brain. The box

altered the temperature around the head and the blood flow. Patients

were strapped in it for hours on end. This was one of the nice guys.

You may think the doctors were saddists but they were using

methods available in the day. They were doing the best work they could.

To me the therapies were grotesque. In Bristol this doctor is the

curator of the mew sim that shows some of the alternative therapies.

There were extreme methods of brain surgery to treat the illness.

would go up here and you would hammer it in. Was the patient

unconscious when this was happening? I think the patient

wasn't unconscious she was, actually, you know around. I don't

think they gave any injection to relieve the pain at that stage.

What is this? This is to hold the skull in place. It is held in one

position. Right. Is this the first machine that sends electric volts

through your head. It's now plugged in. It goes on both sides. First,

ECG in this country was given in 1939. Not given to a man or a woman,

it was given to a sheep. I don't know what to say. Did the sheep

feel better? Exactly. OK, what were the earliest retraipbts? --

restraints? These restraints were using chains. They were really very

horrible. I assumed the chains didn't work. Who came up with this

little number? Is this the latest in straitjackets? A kinder way.

Kinder? You put this on because the patient is aggressive. I think the

danger is he can harm himself. look like you did this a few times.

Do you think you could untie me? course. That would be great. Thank

you. The number of insane were growing faster than asylums could

be built. By 1900 there were 74,000 patients in asylums across the

country. During the First World War they reached bursting point as many

were turned into hospitals. A third of those coming back from the

trenches were called mental cases. What treatments were used for shell

shock? Some doctors would pull the tongue out and paut shock on it.

The whole tradition of attacking the body when you are faced with a

a mental health problem. Treatment were coming in and the idea that

maybe the environments that people were in were the source of peoples'

distress and mental health problems in the military. They could see

some other factor - Something else was going on. The treatments seem

inhumane. At the time they were thought to be the best methods of

helping patient. I wonder what people will think of the methods we

use today. Will they admire the sophistication or shake their heads

at the horror of how primitive it is. I will let you know 100 years.

Is there a gift shop here? Extraordinary. Another familiar

face next week. We asked to you name some of your favourite

national treasures. We wanted to hear what you would be visiting

over the Bank Holiday weekend. Martha suggests King Loch Castle.

The first house with electricity in Scotland. Beautiful island.

Lorraine, she says, "I love TintonAbbey". One of my favourite

parts. Here is one., "the lost Gardens of Helgan in Cornwall. A

secret garden and truly magical". Nice to go there. One of the

surprising things about this dig, you found a message from an

archeologist in the past, didn't you? There has been interest in

this site over the past, the Victorians took an interest. They

excavated part of the site much they found some of the foundations

of the house. He built these walls around it and put slabs on top.

These are Victorians. We lifted the slabs. This was left on top.

left a present. A clay pipe. 17th century. Not smoked by the

Victorians. It was found on site and placed back on top. Must have

left it for us. Take it back before I do damage to it. We thought we

would do a time capsule. It has been filled by suggestions from you

on twitter and the people here. In here are the complete works of

Shakespeare. Photographs of Stratford people and a local

newspaper. Can I put some of the things in. Here we go. We have the

final copy of the News of the World. That was Tina. We have a Will and

Katemug that was suggested by Linda, who is here. Thank you, Linda. Care

wfl that. Harry Potter. Shakespeare of the modern-day. We have Ellis to

dig it into the ground. Time you put something back, you have been

taking things out for years. Let us give him a huge round of applause.

Well done. He will stay there all night planting that. If you want to

plant your own, details on our Thank you to all our helpers

tonight. Next week we are in the New Forest when we'll explain how