Shakespeare's 'original classroom' revealed

The original classroom where William Shakespeare is believed to have studied and seen his first plays opens to the public for the first time this weekend.

The classroom is owned by the King Edward VI school, the direct successor to the grammar school in Stratford-upon-Avon attended by Shakespeare from about 1571.  Among the discoveries was a hidden pre-Reformation wall painting.

Born in 1564, and the earliest record of his writing dates from 1592

Wrote around 38 full plays including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, King Lear and Macbeth

Words including "assassination", "addiction", "generous" and "bedroom" had their first recorded uses in his plays

Introduced phrases like "elbow room", "heart of gold" and "tower of strength" to the English language

Acted as well as wrote, and owned a share in the original Globe theatre

Died on 23 April 1616, aged 52

In depth: Shakespeare's life and legacy.