Church where Shakespeare is buried beneath under threat

ChannelNewsAsia ^ | 1/3/04 | ChannelNewsAsia

[freedom44]

Stratford-upon-Avon, England : The church where England's most celebrated playwright William Shakespeare was baptised and buried is being eaten away by dry rot and an infestation of death watch beetles.

Repairs to the crumbling parapet outside the 800-year-old church in Stratford-upon-Avon are almost complete.

But other vital restoration work is still ongoing.

And it's feared there won't be enough money to finish the job.

The cost of restoration is expected to hit the 150,000-pound mark (US$250,000) -50 percent higher than estimated.

But friends of the church say falling visitor numbers are making it difficult to raise the funds.

Church Trustees say tourist numbers fell in the wake of SARS, Foot and Mouth disease and September 11 - the result - less money coming in for restoration. - CNA

[Servant of the 9]

Publishers all over the world print the plays and poetry without royalty.
The church ought to try some publicity to get them to pony up for the repairs.

SO9

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[The Mayor]

The cost of restoration is expected to hit the 150,000-pound mark (US$250,000) -50 percent higher than estimated.

In the US it would be 10 times that, Union Controls,and PLA's drive up the cost..

[CrazyIvan]

Alas, poor William, I knew him well.....

[basil]

Did you really, Mr. Ivan? You must be older than I--LOL!

[CrazyIvan]

Actually, to judge by my high school literature grades, I didn't know him at all!

[basil]

Psssssst! Don't tell anyone, but what I heard is that no one really knows who wrote all that Shakespeare stuff.

[VOA]

"US$250,000"

Now we'll get to see how "caring" the fat-cats in the entertainment bidness are...
like the folks who made millions of $$$ on "Shakespear In Love".

[Nick Danger]

I think they should drive the beetles o’er his base into the sea.

[CrazyIvan]

Kind of like Tom Clancy's last couple of books?

[djf]

"Good frend for Jesus sake forebeare,
to digg the dust encloased heare,
Bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones,
And curst be he yt moves my bones."

Shakespeares gravestone

[Viking2002]

'Death watch beetles'? They would be more befitting Edgar Allan Poe's cemetery.

[basil]

Probably!