The Rose was the first purpose-built playhouse on the S bank of the Thames. The entrance to the playhouse was directly opposite the stage from Maiden Lane (now Park Street) in the Liberty of the Clink, Southwark. An access lane named Rose Alley connected the gardens of the Little Rose estate on the N to the Bankside but did not yet extend to Maiden Lane.
Built in the amphitheatre style of the time, the playhouse was a wooden structure with 3 tiers of galleries surrounding an open yard. The original structure was a thatched polygon consisting of 14 sides approximately 72' in diameter. The stage projected out into the N section of the yard, delimited by the inner wall to the N. The groundlings stood in the yard at the centre of the playhouse, which was defined by the ring of galleries created by the inner and outer walls.
Ca. 1590 3 documents in the Henslowe-Alleyn papers refer to the Privy Council order to restrain Lord Strange's men from performing at the Rose, thereby providing evidence for their residency at the playhouse prior to such restraints.
In 1592-3 Lord Strange's men, led by Edward Alleyn, performed at the Rose, with an extended run from 19 February-22 June 1592, and another from 29 December 1592-1 February 1592/93. During this time, the company played 'an initial series of 105 consecutive performances of twenty-four different plays, old and new, and then a shorter series of twenty-nine performances, including three more new plays, for a total of twenty-seven plays in all' (Manley and MacLean, Strange's Men, 59).
1593-4, 27 December-6 February The earl of Sussex's men performed at the Rose (Foakes, Henslowe's Diary, 21).
1594, 1-8 April Sussex's and queen's men performed together at the Rose (Foakes, Henslowe's Diary, 22).
1594, 14-16 May, 15 June-1595/6, 27 February Lord admiral's men performed at the Rose (Foakes, Henslowe's Diary, 21-35).
1596, 12 April-18 July Lord admiral's men performed at the Rose (Foakes, Henslowe's Diary, 36-7, 47-8).
1596, 27 October- 28 July 1597 Lord admiral's men performed at the Rose (Foakes, Henslowe's Diary, 54-60).
1597, 21 October-1600, 30 September Lord admiral's men resumed playing at the Rose for a run of 3 years. From 21 October to 4 March 1597/8, Henslowe notes that Pembroke's men performed with them (Foakes, Henslowe's Diary, 60, 71-2).
1600, 28-9 October The earl of Pembroke's men played at the Rose (Foakes, Henslowe's Diary, 164).
1602, 17 August-1603, May The earl of Worcester's men performed at the Rose (Foakes, Henslowe's Diary, 213-25).
Demolished long since but the site was excavated in 1989. The Rose site, in its current state, is used as an exhibit and occasional performance space.
1552 Little Rose estate left as a bequest to the parish of St Mildred's Bread Street and subsequently leased.
1584/5: Philip Henslowe purchased the lease of the Little Rose tenement from Robert Withens.
1587 Henslowe entered into a deed of partnership with John Cholmley of London. By terms of the agreement, Cholmley was to receive half the profits of a new playhouse and to have continuing use of a house that stood on the grounds. Although the men entered into an 8-year partnership, Cholmley's name does not appear in Henslowe's records after 1587 (Ingram, John Cholmley, 44).
1587 The first Rose playhouse completed.
1591-2 Playhouse renovated: the stage expanded and set back from the original stage by 6'6" (2 metres).
1595 Philip Henslowe ordered for minor reconstructions on the playhouse that were largely cosmetic, likely as a reaction to the recently built Swan theatre (Foakes, Henslowe's Diary, 6; Henslowe-Alleyn MSS 7 002 verso).
1600 Warrant issued by the earl of Nottingham for the construction of the Fortune, claiming that the Rose was in a state of 'dangerous decaye' (Bowsher and Miller, Rose and the Globe, 64).
1603 Philip Henslowe opened negotiations for a renewal of his lease of the Little Rose estate through Michelmas of 1605. However, he was told the rent would be tripled, and so he refused the terms.
1606 The Rose, back in the control of St. Mildred's Parish, was carefully dismantled so the materials could be reused.
1629 Little Rose property leased to Thomas Warren for 41 years.
1637 The churchwardens of St Mildred's Parish owned 20 tenements in Rose Alley (Bowsher and Miller, Rose and Globe , 77).
1720 The N end of Rose Alley remained a narrow passage from the Thames. Maiden Lane had ditches on either side, with gardens and houses reached by bridges.
1754 The Little Rose estate leased to a dyer named John Roberts. In this lease Rose Alley was labeled Bear Alley.
1815 Southwark Bridge Company purchased a strip at the S end of the estate to build the S approach to the new Southwark Bridge. The rest of the estate continued in the ownership of St Mildred's parish through the 19th c.
1831 The property was occupied by warehouses, yards, and stables, a hat factory, and dwelling houses (Bowsher and Miller, Rose and Globe , 82).
1939-45 Many features of the 19th c. warehouses were damaged by bombs during World War II.
1957 Southbridge House office block built on the site.
1988 Southbridge House demolished.
1989 Partial excavation of the site: only two-thirds of the original foundation could be uncovered. The eastern third of the site could not be excavated, because it was occupied by the City of London's Technical Services Depot.
1991 Present Rose Court office block erected over the site. The building has a glass floor over the excavation site with rope lights outlining the original structure and its two stages. Professional performances are frequently held on the site.The Rose Theatre Trust is currently raising money to complete the excavation.
Foakes, Henslowe's Diary.
