Now Shakespeare's Stratford Bans Selfie Sticks Over Fears They Could Damage Bard's Birthplace

Selfie sticks have been BARD at William Shakespeare's birthplace over fears the Tudor houses are getting trashed.

Staff at the historic property, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, were bombarded with tourists wielding selfie sticks, as they posed with artefacts. This sparked worries that the photographic devices could cause irreplaceable damage to the wattle and daub walls.

In an attempt to safeguard the tiny property from being destroyed, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust banned the implements from five attractions.

Alison Cole, from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said: 'All of our houses are Tudor and made out of wattle and daub and very fragile.

'They're all quite small buildings and there are some priceless artefacts that are hundreds of year sold.

'We couldn't replace them if they were broken so we have to protect them.'

Shakespeare was born in the thatched cottage in April 1564 and spent his formative years - plus the first five years of his marriage to Anne Hathaway - in the building.

Now, it is open for tours about his works and life, exhibiting his birth certificate and the first book that contained his plays all together.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust operates five properties across Stratford-upon-Avon, all of which are connected to Shakespeare or his immediate family.

They include the cottage of Anne Hathaway, Mary Arden's Farm, Hall's Croft and Harvard House.

Alison added: 'Hundreds of thousands of people come through our doors every year.

'We don't want people stopped, taking up space with their selfie sticks when other visitors are trying to walk past.

'So far nobody has complained about the ban.

'We are all about making Shakespeare come to life for people and we don't want that to be impaired.'