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Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 3, No. 153. Tuesday, 30 June 1992.
 
From: 		Stephen Miller <UDLE031@OAK.CC.KCL.AC.UK>
Date: 		Tuesday, June 30, 1992, 14:34:07 BST
Subject: 	Rose and Globe Theatre Sites at Present
 
John Cox, replying to Todd Lidht's query about the Rose and Globe theatres,
refers to an article from the *TIMES* that I sent along last March pointing
out that the British government had finally placed the Rose Theatre site on
the Department of the Environment's Schedule of Ancient Monuments in Britain.
(I put my name on the accompanying note to Ken Steele, but as John points out,
I forgot to put it after the article, sorry.)
 
Last week I walked crossed to the South Bank of the Thames to have a look.
Neither of the original sites uncovered briefly in 1989 offers much to view.
Both are just over Southwark bridge to the South.  From the bridge, there is
a sign to the left about the Globe Theatre Archaeological Site, but the Globe
site itself is covered largely by a row of houses and offers virtually
nothing to view except the familiar bronze plaque that has been below on the
wall facing Park Street for years.
 
On the right from the bridge, towers the still vacant office building "ROSE
COURT" erected over the Rose site.  If you go down the steps to Park Street
and turn right toward Rose Alley, it is just about possible to peer through
the windows of the new building and see the concrete cover over the Rose
being kept damp.  There was no sign.
 
The only news in this area is coming from the project to build a replica of
the first Globe a few blocks further to the West along Park Street.  On 17
June Prince Edward was supposed to open two bays of this theatre.  There is
an article on page 18 of the London *TIMES* of that date explaining.  The two
bays I saw are wooden frames only, but enticing.  I believe that Sam Wanamaker,
whose project this Globe reconstruction is, hopes that they will encourage
contributions to enable the whole structure eventually to be erected.  The
article suggests that visitors paying 3 pounds at the Bear Gardens museum
nearby can walk around the site and watch further construction on these bays.
 
Though the Rose site offers little to view, I understand that the Rose
Theatre Trust is still actively seeking to find a way and the resources to
open to the public in some manner.  Attempts are being made to set up a
working party, application has been placed with the European Commission for
a Heritage Grant, and talks are being held with the City Surveyor of the
Corporation of London about land next to the site.  The main problem appears
to be a lack of money.
 
STEPHEN MILLER, King's College London
UDLE031 @ UK.AC.KCL.CC.OAK

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