Heritage Open Day

What happened after the town fires in Stratford?

In 1594, 1595 and 1614 disastrous town fires were reported in Stratford-on-Avon. All these occurred during Shakespeare's lifetime, and he certainly would have been concerned about the last, when he lived in New Place. Over the past four years we have been examining the timber-framed buildings in the town centre, looking for evidence of fire damage and rebuilding. We have two preliminary conclusions:

The extent of damage may have been exaggerated to boost claims for compensation
Local building practices were changed to reduce the risk of fires spreading. In particular the use of elm instead of oak may have been encouraged because of its resistance to burning.

StratFire is a four-year collaborative project between the Stratford Society and Historic England.

Heritage Open Day 2026

On 16 September, we held our third StratFire Heritage Open Day (HOD) and this year it was at 22 Chapel Streeet, Nash's House.

We were open 11-4 and visitors heard talks by experts involved in the StratFire project, as well as being able to see a display on the project, and have a guided tour of parts of the building. There were also books for sale and leaflets to take away. We had 72 visitors.

See below for more information relating to the StratFire project, shown on the day:

The fires of 1594 and 1595

Who was affected by the fires?

Stratford Corporation's response to the fires

Stratford Corporation property - dates of earliest mention of fire damage

Collecting for rebuilding after the 1594 fire

Collecting after the fires - Richard Quiney

Dendrochronology findings

The use of elm for repairs

Report by Helen Elliot on the StratFire Open Day

The HOD venue in 2026, Nash's House, is a Grade I listed building (see below, left hand image) dating from the mid-1400s. Dating of the timbers shows that the facade was rebuilt in 1617/18. The building is next door to the site of New Place, the grand house purchased by William Shakespeare, and is now owned by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT). It has periodically been used as a museum and for exhibitions but is at present closed to the public.

Heritage Open Day 2024 - for more information see here.

Chapel Street is the shortest street in the town centre, yet it contains some of Stratford's finest buildings.

Not being a main shopping street, these buildings escaped the commercial pressures

which have had such an adverse ffect on many other properties.