Stratford, as it is known locally, world renowned as the birthplace of Shakespeare, often epitomised by the quaint ‘chocolate box’ prettiness of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and the bold 20th century lines of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, has much to offer the visitor with a little time to spare.
With more than 3 million visitors each year, the best way to explore and appreciate this idyll of the fine county of Warwickshire is at a leisurely pace. To fully embrace the ambience of this area, what could be nicer than a self-catering cottage, from where to sally forth and appreciate this truly picturesque market town?
Stratford can trace its origins back more than eight centuries and its mellow growth can be witnessed by its mixture of buildings, from half timbered Tudor styling (some sympathetically regenerated) to the more modern Georgian, Victorian and 20th century edifices.
Whilst maintaining its heritage as a thriving market town on the banks of the majestic Avon, with an agricultural basis in sheep farming and the wool trade, to which the canal basin bears witness, there is no doubting that Stratford owes a great deal to its most famous son. The poet and playwright William Shakespeare dominates the historic popularity of the town. Born in Henley Street in 1564, and having gained an excellent education at the local grammar school, Shakespeare met and married farmer’s daughter Anne Hathaway whilst still a young man of 18 years. Stifled by the rural life, the ambitious young William fled the town for London to pursue his dreams of acting, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Whilst remaining a tranquil and very much rural town for the next 200 years, the mid to late 18th century saw the beginnings of celebratory recognition of the birthplace of the Bard. From the building of a makeshift theatre by actor David Garrick (the first eponymous ‘Garrick’), which did not survive for long, there followed a continuum of monuments and buildings, aimed at reclaiming to Stratford some of the fame enjoyed by the capital.
Wealthy benefactors, including the founder of the Stratford brewery ‘Flowers’ (now relocated to Cheltenham), provided for the building of several theatres and the preservation of many valuable sites; the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, completed in 1932, and home to the RSC, stands stately by the riverside.
Many of the historic buildings are now owned and cared for by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. These include New Place, the house to which the Bard retired and where he died in 1616.
Stratford has succeeded because of, and in spite of, its historical connection with William Shakespeare. With a population of 25,000, the town works well in coping with the annual pilgrimage of visitors. Whilst many day-trippers may be limited to what can be seen from an open-topped bus, or absorbed from a hasty walk around, the true value is to be gained from an unhurried and leisurely stay. Set as it is in one of the most beautiful of the shires, Stratford is also an ideal base for enjoying the nearby Cotswolds, the remarkable castle of Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa, and much more.
Stratford is truly a not-to-be-missed jewel of England’s heritage.