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The Hope Playhouse is a multi-purpose entertainment venue constructed in 1613 on Bankside in Southwark, London, designed by Peter Street as both a theatre and bear-baiting arena. The timber-framed structure was notable for its innovative movable stage, which could be removed to accommodate animal performances, making it unique among London playhouses of the early seventeenth century. The Hope operated until its demolition in 1656, and archaeological investigation has recovered evidence of the building's foundations and associated features. The site lies within a concentration of Bankside entertainment venues that included other bear gardens, reflecting the area's established role as London's principal location for both theatrical and blood sport performances during the Tudor and Stuart periods.
The Hope Playhouse, and the remains of three further bear gardens, Bankside is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1433280. View the official record →
The Hope Playhouse is a multi-purpose entertainment venue constructed in 1613 on Bankside in Southwark, London, designed by Peter Street as both a theatre and bear-baiting arena. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1433280.
The Hope Playhouse, and the remains of three further bear gardens, Bankside is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1433280.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including The Globe Theatre (0.1 km), Romano-British bath house and medieval remains at 11-15 Borough High Street (0.6 km), Roman riverboat, 136m west of Greenwood Theatre (0.8 km).
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around The Hope Playhouse, and the remains of three further bear gardens, Bankside