Reasons for Designation
The Rose Theatre represents one of the earliest purpose-built commercial
playhouses in England, and the first of a cluster of Tudor-Jacobean theatres
on the south bank of the Thames in London. The existence nationally of a small
number of similar theatres is attested to by contemporary records but, to
date, the Rose and the nearby remains of the Globe Theatre are the only
examples where physical remains have been identified. The monument therefore
has important rarity value. The high level of preservation of the remains,
with considerable potential for the survival of organic material, greatly
enhances the significance of the monument.
Details
The monument includes the surviving remains of an Elizabethan and Jacobean
theatre identified as the Rose Theatre. The Rose, built in or shortly after
AD 1587 by the impresario Philip Henslowe, was the earliest of four similar
playhouses constructed on the south bank of the Thames in London. The last
known performance at the Rose was in 1603.
The remains of the theatre include a pair of concentric wall footings, 3.5
metres apart, enclosing an irregular polygon some 25 metres (projected)
across. The original timber-framed superstructure with lath-and-plaster walls
was constructed on a trench-built footing of brick and chalk. Extra stability
was provided by a series of closely spaced rubble-filled pits below the
footing. The inner wall enclosed a central yard, level to the south but
sloping towards the stage to the north. It was edged by an eaves-drip and
floored with a layer of mortar on which spectators could stand. After a period
of use the theatre was apparently extended northwards in order to accommodate
a larger audience. This work included moving the stage and reflooring the yard
and may represent the alterations attested to in records of AD 1592.
The office building constructed over the site, the Rose Court building, is
excluded from the scheduling. The area of the scheduling which is confined
within the walls of the basement of the Rose Court building is shown on the
attached Plan A outlined in red.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
20851
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
