Virtual  Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Feminist

Elizabeth Newcomen 1605-1675 was born in Southwark when Shakespeare was 42. She was the local milkmaid and he probably thought of her when he referred to milkmaids in Midsummer Night’s Dream and Two Gentlemen of Verona. She married a Mercer who died young and left her money and property which she skilfully administered. She remained a single widow, rescued poor children, established a school for young women, created a wealthy foundation which continues today and earned a stone memorial in Southwark Cathedral. This virtual or real-life tour re-creates her life, visits the places she lived and owned and teaches attendees the Newcomen School Song ‘Girls we are together…’