The rolling hills and ancient architecture of Herefordshire have taken centre stage in the highly anticipated film adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning novel, Hamnet. This picturesque corner of England, with its crooked Tudor buildings and historic churches, provided the perfect stand-in for Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon, transporting audiences back to the Elizabethan era.
Stepping into Shakespeare's World
Wandering through the streets of Weobley, it becomes immediately clear why location scouts selected this area. The town is a half-timbered heaven of rambling, crooked buildings, many of which were old even before William Shakespeare was born. The Unicorn and Ye Olde Salutation Inn stand as welcoming establishments that would have felt familiar to characters from the Bard's own plays.
The film, starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, brings to life O'Farrell's powerful literary evocation of Shakespeare's family life, particularly focusing on the tragedy of their son Hamnet's death in 1596. Finding authentic Elizabethan settings was crucial, and the production team discovered them in abundance throughout Herefordshire and the Welsh borders.
Historical Discoveries in Ancient Churches
Within the medieval Church of St Peter & St Paul in Weobley, a stone knight lies on a plinth, revealing a name that would have been well-known in Elizabethan England: Devereux. This discovery connects directly to Shakespeare's own professional anxieties.
In 1601, Shakespeare's acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, were paid by supporters of Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex, to stage Richard II - a play depicting monarchal overthrow. The following morning, Essex attempted to unseat Queen Elizabeth I with 300 armed men. The rebellion failed spectacularly, resulting in Essex's execution and creating extremely anxious times for everyone involved in the production.
The knight in Weobley church is Walter Devereux, who died in 1402 and was a direct ancestor of the rebellious earl. Historical research reveals he fought alongside Richard II in Scotland before switching allegiance to Henry Bolingbroke, the future Henry IV, only to meet his end at the Battle of Bryn Glas.
From Weobley to the Perfect Film Location
The Shakespearean connections continue throughout the region. In Pembridge, two pubs lean over the highway in classic Tudor style, while the New Inn - which was new in Shakespeare's time - still welcomes visitors today. Research reveals that Shakespeare's famous character Falstaff was based on the real-life Sir John Oldcastle, born at Almeley, just five miles west of Weobley.
The most significant filming location discovered by the Hamnet scouts was Cwmmau farmhouse near Brilley. This substantial and remarkably preserved 16th-century farmhouse stands in for Hewlands Farm, the childhood home of Agnes (Shakespeare's wife, better known as Anne Hathaway). The original property sits outside Stratford and is famously known as Anne Hathaway's Cottage.
The film location fees have contributed to essential conservation work on Cwmmau farmhouse, which is managed by the National Trust and scheduled to reopen as a holiday cottage in December 2024.
Exploring further afield, visitors can enjoy the wonderfully eccentric Westonbury Mill Water Gardens or walk Hergest Ridge, part of the Offa's Dyke Path, which offers panoramic views of the countryside including north towards the Bryn Glas battle site.
Hamnet brings together literary excellence, historical drama, and the timeless beauty of the British landscape, with Herefordshire providing the perfect backdrop for this poignant story of love, loss, and artistic creation. The film is scheduled for release in UK cinemas from 9 January 2026.
