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| History of Stratford-upon-Avon |
Stratford-upon-Avon was first settled in Saxon times when a village was founded on the banks of the River Avon, at a point where the river could be easily forded.
And, as you might have guessed, the name is derived from the Saxon meaning "ford across a river".
In the early 12th century Stratford was granted a market charter, enabling it to hold a weekly market - a tradition that continues to this day.
Under the market the town prospered, with all manner of merchants settling in the town to ply their trade.
Nevertheless, the town was largely unremarkable, and would probably have passed unnoticed in history except for an event that occurred in 1564 - the birth of the town's most famous son.
This son was, of course, William Shakespeare, the greatest English writer of all time.
Shakespeare lived in Stratford until the age of about 23, in the meantime marrying local girl Anne Hathaway.
Then he travelled to London, where his writing career took off, gaining him considerable fame and fortune.
In 1610 he retired back to Stratford, purchasing New Place in Chapel Street. He died here several years later and was buried in the local Church of the Holy Trinity.
The fact that Shakespeare both lived and died in the town had some dramatic implications on Stratford-upon-Avon.
Within a few decades it had become synonymous with the author, and it has been a major tourist attraction ever since.
Today hundreds of thousands of visitors visit the town each year, making Stratford-upon-Avon one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. |
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