News

September 2025

Heritage Open Day - Friday 19 September - Hall's Croft

This year, thanks to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust we are holding our Heritage Open Day at Hall's Croft, Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon. Further details are as follows:

Date and time: Friday 19 September, 11-4pm

Itinerary: 

  • 11.30 Talk and Q&A by Dr Bob Bearman updating us on StratFire project progress
  • 1.30 Talk by Dr Nat Alcock on Hall's Croft: the architectural history of the building
There will also be:
  • Videos and a display on the StratFire project
  • Dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) samples to look at
  • Handouts on the project to take away including Family Trails on buildings the project has investigated
  • Books for sale including: 50 Buildings, The Frieze and the Historic Spine

This is a unique opportunity to:

  • Learn more about the StratFire project which is investigating the fires of the 1590s in relation to Stratford's buildings 
  • Talk to specialists and other enthusiasts and
  • Visit Hall's Croft. Access to the garden will be available 

Entry is free of charge. Wheelchair access is available and there is a disabled toilet in the grounds. 

Please note that there is no car parking on site. 

Image: Postcard showing Hall's Croft from the road. c1915. Courtesy of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

August 2025

New Heritage Exhibition now open at Harvard House.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Stratford Society have been working together to deliver a ‘Stratford Heritage and History Exhibition’ at Harvard House this summer. The exhibition gives both local people and visitors a taste of our town’s history. It is open until the end of September and entry is free of charge.

For more about the exhibition see here.

Image: Chapel Street by Paul Braddon, c1890. Courtesy of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

April 2025

Shakespeare's Birthday Parade

A small (but select!) group of people attended this year's Shakespeare's Birthday Parade (the 461st) on Saturday 26th April. After gathering in Bancroft Gardens we walked to Bridge Street where the Society had been placed fourth from the top on the left hand (Sainsbury's) side. After unfurling the flag, members processed to Holy Trinity Church via High Street, Chapel Street, Church Street and Old Town. As usual there were many people lining the streets, waving, and schoolchildren joined local organisations in the procession. The weather was mild and pleasant and after the event people went on to lunch or coffee. We hope many more of you will join us next year. 



February 2025

South Warwickshire Local Plan

The government has announced its commitment to increasing the rate of house building. The SDC (Stratford District Council) and Warwick District Council have been working together on a new local plan for some time, which they've had to radically rethink to accommodate the government's plan for more homes.

For more information, please read this document.

The latest consultation document is open until 7th March 2025. As residents of Stratford and district, please get involved by sharing your views: 

https://www.southwarwickshire.org.uk/swlp/

There are 12 areas which are possible sites for major development within the district  but only two will be required. The question is, which two?

The Stratford Society stresses the importance of adding infrastructure as well as homes (for example: roads, shops, medical centres, schools, etc). We also want to ensure that our heritage assets and open spaces are protected. 

Again, you have until 7th March - please make your views known. 

November/December 2024

SBT Council Meeting. On Wednesday 27th November, Bob Bearman, Margaret Cund and Ellie Stevenson attended a Shakespeare Birthplace Trust council meeting where Bob gave a talk on the StratFire Project. We also had a display on StratFire including information on the Pavement Plaques project. As well as a discussion on a range of topics, we were able to find out more about Trust activities and talk to staff. 

MOSA meeting. On Thursday 5th December Bob Bearman and Ellie Stevenson attended a MOSA (Museum of Stratford-on-Avon) meeting to look at ways we could contribute to the project and work together. 

September 2024 On Friday 6 September, the society was involved in a Heritage Open Day event at 1 High Street, Stratford-upon-Avon. The event was part of the StratFire Project which is exploring the history of the buildings of High Street and Chapel Street in the context of the fires of 1594, 1595 and 1614. A recent dendrochronology survey dated some of the timbers from the building to 1441. This supported historical documentary research on the property. 

The event invited the public to view the building including seeing some of the changes that had taken place over time. They were also able to learn more about the work of the StratFire Project through a display, videos and a PowerPoint presentation. Specialists were available to talk to people about the building and the dendrochronology and people were able to handle original samples of dated wood.

The building was once the home of Shakespeare's daughter, Judith Quiney and her husband Thomas. Read more, and watch the StratFire videos here. 

July 2024 On the morning of Tuesday 23 July 2024, members of the Society gathered outside the gates of Hall’s Croft eager to enter one of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s most loved gardens. The weather was perfect for this open air outing.

Rachael North, SBT’s Director of Museum and Public Programmes, started the event with an update on the conservation work being carried out on the house and answered questions regarding the current state of the timbers and other quirks of Tudor house-building. Rachael then handed us over to Head Gardener Sian Cooper.  Find out more, and see the photos here.

July 2024 On Wednesday 17 July 2024, a small group gathered on the pavement outside the Guild Cottages (previously called the Almshouses) in Church Street. We were there to mark the end of the first phase of plaque laying along the historic spine. Pioneered and led by the Stratford Society’s Dr Robert Bearman, the historic spine has been a great success with tourists and locals alike. When you live in a place you don’t necessarily know all its quirks and secrets and the historic spine has enabled many local people to become aware of what they walk past in Stratford’s streets. Many buildings have a fascinating story behind the commercial façade that they show to the world, even those that aren’t Tudor. 

Bob Bearman, MBE, BA made a short speech, and the plaque was then revealed by President of the Stratford Municipal Charities, Mick Love, MBE. The residents of the Almshouses then invited us into their beautiful garden where we were treated to tea and cake.  Find out more here.

May 2022 The Stratford Society has been awarded a grant of £40,000 from Historic England for the four-year research project StratFire. The project will investigate how the town recovered from the disastrous fires in 1594, 1595 and 1614. Timber-framed buildings in High Street and Chapel Street will be examined, using a combination of documentary research, architectural survey and dendrochronology. Read the Press Release and Read the article in the Stratford Herald

April 2022  The Stratford Society participated in the Shakespeare Birthday Procession on Saturday 23rd April. We unfurled the Society's flag from a flagpole in Bridge Street, close to the M&S portico, and then walked ceremonially along the Historic Spine to Holy Trinity Church, where we laid bouquets on Shakespeare's grave in the chancel. We also carried two new banners, made especially for the occasion, to make the Society's presence more visible.

(photo by Helen Elliott)

April 2022  The Warwickshire County Council has launched a public consultation on ideas for what Bridge Street, High Street and Union Street in Stratford-upon-Avon could look like in the future, building on ideas originally set out within Stratford's Neighbourhood Development Plan. This results from proposals by the Town Strategic Partnership, in which the Stratford Society has been actively involved. We strongly support these proposals and urge all residents to respond favourably before 5th June. Read more...

March 2022  Following the presentation last October by Neil Warren, we have arranged an exclusive visit for Stratford Society members at lunchtime 1-2 pm on Friday 8 April to the Marina construction site by Seven Meadows Road. There is no charge but the number in the party is limited to 20, so please book early by contacting the Events Coordinator, John Freeland. Read more...

February 2022  We have arranged an exclusive visit for Stratford Society members at 10am on the morning of Monday 14 March to Mason's Court in Rother Street. The price will be £15 per head, including tea/coffee and cakes. The number in the party is limited to 10, so please book early. This is a special opportunity because the building is very rarely open to visitors. Read more...

January 2022  We have been invited to participate in a play-reading of Shakespeare's King John. This is to raise money for restoration of the statue of Shakespeare, given by David Garrick, on the Town Hall. We invite members to participate in this special event on 5th March. Read more...