Original site of the Globe Theatre

You are currently standing near what was once a marshy, lawless patch of ground known as the Liberty of the Clink. This area sat outside the jurisdiction of London city officials, which allowed it to become a notorious hub for bear-baiting, taverns, and brothels. In 1599, Shakespeare and his acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, chose this unconventional neighborhood to build their flagship playhouse. They specifically targeted this site because its status as a liberty meant they could operate their stage away from the stifling regulations of city authorities who frequently sought to suppress the theater.