600-Year-Old Doorway Discovered in Guildhall Theatre

Archaeologists at St. George’s Guildhall in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, have uncovered a 600-year-old doorway that may have led to William Shakespeare’s dressing room. The discovery, revealed by creative director Tim FitzHigham, was made behind layers of plasterboard and 18th-century bricks and is believed to date back to pre-1405. This archway is thought to have been part of the Guild robing room used by elite guild members before becoming a dressing room for actors in the 1500s. Recent findings support the belief that Shakespeare performed there with his company during the plague-induced closure of London theatres in the late 16th century. The Guildhall, the oldest working theatre in the UK, continues to reveal historical layers, including floorboards from Shakespeare's era found last year.