Shakespeare, Sheriffs and Sack: A Morning in the Painted Room

This morning, on Shakespeare’s birthday, I had the great pleasure of joining friends and supporters of the Oxford Preservation Trust in one of Oxford’s most remarkable hidden spaces: the Painted Room at 3 Cornmarket Street.

Tucked above a mobile phone shop and unnoticed by most who pass it daily, the Painted Room is a treasure. Its Elizabethan wall paintings—discovered behind centuries of panelling and wallpaper—have been lovingly restored, and today offer a vivid glimpse into the world Shakespeare would have known. A world of colour, craftsmanship and, clearly, a good dose of theatrical flair.

That spirit was alive and well this morning.

Before we set out for the civic procession, the crowd was led—joyfully, and with great style—by the wonderful Hannah Clift, who appeared as none other than William Shakespeare himself. Hannah brought her usual fresh, playful energy to the Bard, leading us all in dance and setting exactly the right tone for what followed. She was, quite rightly, the star of the morning. As you’ll see in the photos below, Will has never looked quite so commanding… or quite so delighted.

I must admit, I’ve always had a fondness for this particular date. Over forty years ago, when I was a Drama student at Bristol University, we used to mark Shakespeare’s birthday with sonnets, silliness, and slightly questionable toasts of malmsey and sack. There were doublets, hose, and an awful lot of impromptu soliloquies. Fast forward to today, and I find myself once again in costume—though these days it’s a lace jabot, sword and court shoes, in my new guise as High Sheriff. The outfit may have changed, but the sense of occasion remains.

We gathered in the Painted Room not only to honour the Bard, but to reflect on Oxford’s own connection to him. William Davenant, born in this very building, was a poet laureate and playwright who claimed Shakespeare as his godfather—and, as some stories suggest, perhaps even more. His mother kept the tavern below, and it’s entirely possible that Shakespeare himself passed through these rooms. You can feel the history in the walls.

I had the honour of saying a few words during the gathering. I spoke about Shakespeare’s Sheriffs—who appear throughout his plays, sometimes officiously, sometimes harried, always entangled in the complex business of justice and power. In Henry IV, one attempts to arrest Falstaff. In Henry VI, another is caught up in civic unrest. The role hasn’t always been glamorous.

Today, of course, things are rather different. The High Sheriff’s role is ceremonial but also purposeful. We support the rule of law, celebrate those who serve our communities, and shine a light on the quiet work that holds society together. And above all, we say thank you.

I also took a moment to thank the Oxford Preservation Trust. Their stewardship of the Painted Room—and so many other places like it—ensures that we don’t just remember our history; we stand in it.

And I closed with a nod to the Bard himself:

“The better part of Valour, is Discretion; in the which better part, I have saved my life.”
(Henry IV, Part 1)

Though in my case, discretion may not quite extend to wearing this outfit down Cornmarket…

Enjoy the photos below. They capture the spirit of the morning far better than I ever could in words. And to all who joined us — thank you for bringing the Bard to life once more.

Happy Birthday, Will.