By Hannah Richardson, BBC News education reporter

William Shakespeare may have spent some of his « lost » early years working as a schoolmaster in a Hampshire village.

Local historians in Titchfield near Southampton believe the Bard worked as a schoolmaster at a school there for three years between 1589 and 1592.

The theory has its roots in his relationship with the third Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, who sponsored Shakespeare for a time.

It may answer the mystery of where the author was between 1589 and 1592.

Academics have long tried to fill in the details of Shakespeare’s lost years between the birth of his twins in 1589, and 1592 when he was recorded as being in London.

By Hannah Richardson, BBC News education reporter

William Shakespeare may have spent some of his « lost » early years working as a schoolmaster in a Hampshire village.

Local historians in Titchfield near Southampton believe the Bard worked as a schoolmaster at a school there for three years between 1589 and 1592.

The theory has its roots in his relationship with the third Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, who sponsored Shakespeare for a time.

It may answer the mystery of where the author was between 1589 and 1592.

Academics have long tried to fill in the details of Shakespeare’s lost years between the birth of his twins in 1589, and 1592 when he was recorded as being in London.