A Tempest is brewing after trustees of Shakespeare's birthplace evicted tenants living near Anne Hathaway's Cottage "to cash in on holiday lets"."

People living in a row of historic cottages just yards from the childhood home of Shakespeare's wife have been given eight weeks to move out.

Some of the tenants, who pay around £800-a-month in rent, have lived in the properties in Shottery, Warks., for decades.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust own the eight properties on Cottage Lane in the pretty village on the outskirts of Stratford-upon-Avon.

The trust say they need to carry out essential repairs and upgrades to the heating systems of the buildings which will take six months to complete.

After the work is finished they will be turned into a combination of long and short-term lets which locals believe will be marketed to holidaymakers.

Tenants have blasted the trust - who have not denied the holiday lets claims - and accused them of "ripping out the heart" of the community."

Anthony Greene, 46, has lived in his cottage for three years and was hoping his long term partner would move in with him in the spring.

The freelance construction site manager said: "I was actually discussing with my partner about her moving in, but now that's ruined."

"We got an email out of the blue, then a letter telling us we were being evicted and had eight weeks to get out. I thought what the hell?"

"I've got neighbours who work for the trust and they are just as surprised as I am. "

"There's a family here who have been living here for over 20 years, it's madness."

"If that's what it is, heating, they can come and do that this week with me here. That's not a big job. "

"I'm a site manager and I've worked with buildings, there's nothing here that cannot be done with the residents in situ. "

"Unless it's something about converting them to holiday lets."

"I think 99 per cent they're going to be holiday lets, it's all about going after the tourist money. "

"It's all the trust and Stratford care about." "

Anthony believes the two and three bedroom houses will be converted into holiday lets with the income boosting the coffers of the trust.

He added: "The attractions around here are open pretty much all year round. All this ties in nicely with American tourists coming over. "

"My rent was £800-a-month, which is one of the reasons why I moved here. It is good value. "

"The properties aren't perfect, there are things that explain that cost. "

"We've got communal gardens, downstairs bathrooms and single pane windows. It's not perfect and I was willing to do work to the property myself."

Anthony says he is already struggling to find alternative accommodation in the area, adding: "I haven't got a clue where I'll live next. "

"There's only one house in Stratford that comes into my price bracket, but it's smaller than this."

"I'll be very sad to leave this village. a lovely, peaceful area. "

"I'm about a 20 minute walk from the centre of Stratford and the neighbours are great."

Tenants were informed on February 17 they were being issued with a section 21 eviction notice giving them two months to leave their homes.

Keith Smith, 50, together with his wife and their daughter, have lived in one of the cottages for 18 years and pay £725-a-month in rent.

He said: "There was no proper contact or a meeting to discuss it. To just get an email was a bit of a shock."

"I think it's rather rushed, because it takes time to find somewhere else to live. "

"My wife was very emotional about it because we've been here a long time. It's a fantastic place to live."



Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: "To me the trust is ripping out the heart of the village for the sake of making more money."

"The trust don't want long term tenants like us renting and living here. They want to do the cottages up and rent them to holidaymakers."

"It's a disgusting way to treat people who have lived in theses properties and contribute to village life."

A spokesperson for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said: "In order to meet our statutory requirements all eight properties on Cottage Lane must undergo significant renovation and maintenance work, including new heating systems and insulation. "

"Due to the complexity and invasiveness of the works, which will take at least six months, all tenants are required to vacate the properties."

"We have ensured that tenants have been given extended and advance notice, a minimum of three months, to make alternative arrangements."

"The works are being directly funded by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust as part of our wider commitment to conservation across our estate. "

"We will work closely with our contractors to ensure that there is minimal disruption to the residents of Shottery as well as the visitor experience at Anne Hathaway's Cottage."

"Following the completion of the works the trust will seek to re-let these properties on either long or short-term tenancies."