News

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 ... 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

December 2021  As we come to the end of this strange year, it is surprising to look back and realise that we have not held a single ‘live’ meeting where we could all get together.  Instead we have been using the Zoom online meeting software to good effect, and have held 12 monthly meetings. As content has been added to our website, the volume of traffic has increased... Read more