STRATFORDUPON-AVON, Warwickshire, a municipal borough, tuarketetowu, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Stratford-upon-Avon, is situated on the right bank of the river Avon, in 52° 12' N. lat., 1° 43' W. long., 9 miles S.W. from Warwick, 96 miles N.W. from London by road, and 106 miles by the Great Western raileay, and the Stratford branch of the Oxford Worcester and Wol verhampton railway. The population of the town in 1851 was 3372. The borough is governed by 4 aldermen and 12 councillors, one of whom is mayor. The living is a vicarage in the archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester. Stratford-upon-Avon Poor-Law Union contains 36 parishes and townships, with an area of 79,051 acres, and a popula tion of 20,789 in 1851.
Stratford Was a place of sonic consequence three centuries before the Conquest The manor was included in the possessions of the bishopric of Worcester. The principal interest of the town is derived from its having been the birth-place of Shakspere (1564), the place to which ho retired in his maturer years, and where, in 1616, he died. In 1769 a festival termed 'the Jubilee' was celebrated at Stratford, in honour of Shakspere, under the direction of Garrick ; and a few years ego it was proposed to hold a trienuial commemorative festival, but the aeries has not been kept up.
The town is approached from London by a long stone bridge of 14 pointed arches, erected in the reign of Henry VII. at the sole hare of Sir Hugh Clopton, lord mayor of London, and widened of late years. By another bridge just below, a railroad is carried across the river, and at the south end of the town is a wooden foot-bridge. The streets are irregularly laid out, but the principal ones are clean, well paved, and lighted with gas. The church is at the south-eastern corner of the town, near the bank of the river. It is a large and very handsome cruciform structure, having nave, chancel, aisles, and tran sept, with a fins tower end spire. The transept, tower, and some parts of the Wive are good examples of early English. Tho upper part of the tower is of decorated character, with curious circular windows, having varied tracery. The chancel is a fine specimen of late perpendicular. lu the interior, on the north wall of the chancel, is Shskspere'a monument. About 1840 the church was thoroughly repaired and restored, both externally and internally, at great expense and with much taste. There arc several ancient sedilia with canopies iu the interior, and two elegant modern carved stone pulpits. The remains of Shakapere are buried in rho chancel, on the north side. The monument agaiust the wall is surmounted by a half-length effigy of Shakspere, executed with some taste and ekill. Stratford church
Was formerly collegiate.
Besides the parish church there is a chapel of ease, anciently the chapel belonging to the Guild of the Holy Cross. Some time after the dissolution of monastic iostitutione, the possessions of this frater nity were granted to the corporation of Stratford for specific purposes. The chapel Is of late perpendicular character. Adjoining the chapel is the hall of the guild, an ancient building, which has undergone much alteration. The lower part is used for the business of the cor poration, the upper part fa occupied by the Grammar school. The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, Indepeudoute, Baptists, and Roman Catholics have places of worship. There aro National and British schools. The Free Grammar school, founded in 1482 (and in which according to tradition Shakspere was educated), has an income from endowment of 545/., and had 50 scholars iu 1851. Thera are several town charities which are managed by 12 trustees; also a savings bank. A county court is held in the town. In the principal room of the town-hall are a portrait of Shskspere by Benjamin Wilson, and one of Garrick by Gainsborough. A statue of Shakspere stands iu a niche on the northern front of the building. There is a theatre which stands within the products of Shakspere's garden.
The occupations of the inhabitants of Stratford are chiefly agri cultural, or dependent upon agriculture. The market, a considerable one for corn and cattle, is held ou Friday. Eleven fairs are held in the year. The navigation of the Avon oommeuces at Stratford. The Stratford-upon-Avon canal runs from the north aide of the town to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal near Birmingham. The Strat ford and Moreton goods railway extends from near the termination of the canal to near the town of Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucesterehire, 16 miles. Coal from the South Staffordshire coal-field is sent forward by it, and stone and agricultural produce are brought back. d'art of the ancient house, in which Shakspere is said to have been hero, aud which belonged to him at his death, is standing in lieuley-strect, ou the north side of the town. A room iu it, pointed out as the chamber of his birth, is covered with the names of visitors. This house and the adjoining tenements which origiuslly formed part of it, were pur chased a few years ago for the nation at a cost of about 4000/. Among the other note-worthy objects in Stratford and its vicinity are a curious old half-timber house in the High-street ; the cottage of Anne Hath away, Shakspere's wife, in the ndjoiuing parish of Shottery ; and Charlecote house, the seat of the Lucys, a few miles higher up the Avon.