The mysterious Shakespeare graffiti which appeared on the fire exit of a hotel’s staff car park in King’s Lynn has been taken down.
Hospitality chain Wetherspoons, which owns the Globe on King Street, confirmed it had removed it from the doors it was sprayed on.
While it did not say what would now happen to the piece, a spokesman said it would not be going on display.
Sightseers and art fans flocked to Ferry Street, which leads to the River Ouse, after the work proclaiming “Shakespeare woz ere” was painted onto the doors in the early hours of Monday.
The graffiti pictured soon after it appeared on Monday (Image: Chris Bishop)
The graffiti has now been removed (Image: Chris Bishop)
Many believed the work was created by the enigmatic street artist, who has previously left his mark on the region.
Council workers covered it in plastic sheeting to protect it from thieves or vandals and security guards were posted with a watching brief.
But one expert said it had flaws including a gap in its arm and “sausage-shaped” fingers, which perfectionist Banksy would not have tolerated.
And Banksy’s agents later confirmed the piece was not by him.
The Shakespeare graffiti in King’s Lynn before it was removed (Image: Chris Bishop)
An aerial picture of the Guildhall of St George, where some believe Shakespeare himself performed (Image: Matthew Usher)
The piece appeared a stone’s throw from the Guildhall of St George, which is undergoing a £30m revamp.
Supporters say the bard himself once trod the boards in its theatre in 1592 or 1593, when London’s theatres were closed because of an outbreak of plague.
The claim is based on a note in the theatre’s accounts book showing Shakespeare’s company was paid by the borough to perform there.
But beyond this circumstantial evidence there are no further details to confirm the man himself “woz ere”.
And critics fear the council will have to borrow £15m towards the coast of the project if is unable to find grant funding to plug a funding shortfall.