Stratford-upon-Avon

• 1. Origins And Etymology

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  The name Stratford-upon-Avon tells a story of Roman roads and Celtic rivers. It combines the Old English word stræet, meaning street, with avon, a Celtic term for river. This street was part of a Roman road connecting Icknield Street in Alcester to the Fosse Way. The ford itself has been used as a crossing since Roman times and later became the location of Clopton Bridge. Archaeological remains show that the area was settled during the Roman period from the 1st to the 5th century AD. A small Roman town existed about two miles northeast of the modern town centre at Tiddington. Two further probable Roman settlements have been found within a few miles of today's Stratford. The first written use of the name Stratford appears in a survey from 1251, 52. That document identified both Old Stratford and newer manors. After that time, the name described the area specifically surrounding Holy Trinity Church and the street of the Old Town.

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• 2. Medieval Development

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  Bishop John of Coutances laid out plans to develop the village into a town in 1196. He created a new grid system around one hundred acres north of the original settlement. This plan allowed people to rent property in order to trade within the town. Coutances granted his tenants the right to transmit property at death through a system called burgage tenure. Each development plot or burgage consisted of around thirty feet frontage. King Richard I granted a charter to Stratford in 1196 allowing a weekly market to be held there. These charters formed the foundations of Stratford's transformation from a village to a town. By 1252 the town had approximately 240 burgages along with shops and stalls. Tradesmen established the Guild of the Holy Cross for their business and religious requirements. They built a Guild Chapel in the 13th century and a Guildhall on Church Street around 1417. The guild also established an educational institution in the late 13th century. Many early buildings are located along what is known as Stratford's Historic Spine. This route begins at Shakespeare's Birthplace in Henley Street and continues through Bridge Street into the High Street.

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• 3. Civil War Turmoil

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  Stratford became a centre of considerable activity during the English Civil War due to its strategic location. It sat at the junction of several main roads making it important for both Royalist and Parliamentarian armies. In February 1643, Royalist forces under Colonel Wagstaffe occupied the town. Lord Brooke recaptured it by the 25th of February after an engagement on the nearby road to Warwick. A notable incident occurred when three barrels of gunpowder stored in the Market Hall blew up. The explosion destroyed the hall which stood at the site of the current Town Hall. From March 1644 until part of the following year, Parliamentarian troops continuously occupied Stratford. Prince Rupert visited the town again in July 1643 when he met Queen Henrietta Maria. She was the guest of honour at New Place with Susanna Hall, William Shakespeare's daughter. Oliver Cromwell stayed in Stratford in December 1646 and again in 1651 before the Battle of Worcester. Despite this activity, growth remained slow throughout the 17th century with hearth tax returns showing approximately 429 houses by 1670.

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• 4. Shakespearean Legacy

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  The town receives approximately 2.7 million visitors each year because it is the birthplace and burial place of William Shakespeare. David Garrick staged a major Shakespeare Jubilee over three days in 1769 which saw the construction of a large rotunda. This event contributed to the growing phenomenon of Bardolatry that made Stratford a tourist destination. Charles Edward Flower instigated the building of a temporary wooden theatre known as the Tercentenary Theatre in 1864. He gave several acres of riverside land to the local council on the understanding that a permanent theatre be built. The first Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened in 1879 but burned down in 1926. Elisabeth Scott designed the replacement Royal Shakespeare Theatre which opened in 1932. It was the first important building by a woman architect erected in Britain. Sir Peter Hall formed the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1961. The company runs two smaller theatres including the Swan Theatre created in the 1980s from the shell of the original Memorial Theatre. Five houses relating to William Shakespeare's life are owned and cared for by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. These include Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Shottery and Mary Arden's House in Wilmcote.

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• 5. Industrial Evolution

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  Stratford did not become a major centre of industry during the Industrial Revolution though some industries grew locally. Edward Fordham Flower opened a large canal side brewery in 1831. The Flower & Sons Brewery survived until 1967 when it was taken over by Whitbread. Several lime kilns were opened locally and the manufacture of tarpaulin flourished. The advent of rail transport caused a major decline in river and canal transport. The River Avon navigation through Stratford was abandoned in 1875. It was restored as a navigation by volunteers almost a century later in 1974. Between 1793 and 1816 the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal was built linking the Avon with Birmingham. The first steam railway reached Stratford in July 1859 followed by another branch in October 1860. Both branches joined to open the current station in July 1861. Tourism is now a major employer especially in the hotel and hospitality sectors. Other industries include boat building bicycles mechanical engineering food manufacture and information technology. Major employers include NFU Mutual Insurance Company Amec Foster Wheeler Sitel Tesco Morrisons Marks Spencer B&Q and Pashley Cycles.

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• 6. Modern Governance

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  In the 2021 census Stratford had a population of 30,495 which increased from 27,894 in the 2011 census. The town's population has undergone expansion following government approval to build 800 new homes in Shottery. Up to 500 new homes are planned in the Bishopton area and 270 on Loxley Road. Stratford is governed by three tiers of local government. Warwickshire County Council handles education highways and strategic matters. Stratford-on-Avon District Council manages housing planning rubbish collection and other local matters based at Elizabeth House. The Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council serves the civil parish with 18 members elected from 12 wards. It is responsible for crime prevention cemeteries public conveniences parks and grants via the Town Trust. In 1974 the ancient borough was abolished and merged into the much larger Stratford-on-Avon District. That council inherited two long-standing charities including the Guild and College estates. These assets were transferred to the Stratford Town Trust charity which awards grants totalling over £2 million each year to the local community. The parish absorbed Old Stratford and Drayton in March 2015.

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