Stratford Back Alley
by Terri Waters
Title
Stratford Back Alley
Artist
Terri Waters
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
This is the oldest surviving cobbled street in Stratford.
Stratford-upon-Avon, known locally as Stratford, is a market town in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, 22 miles (35 km) south east of Birmingham and 8 miles (13 km) south west of Warwick.
The town is a popular tourist destination owing to its status as birthplace of the playwright and poet William Shakespeare, receiving millions of visitors a year from all over the world. The Royal Shakespeare Company resides in Stratford's Royal Shakespeare Theatre, one of Britain's most important cultural venues.
Sheep Street is one of Stratford's oldest surviving streets and runs from the Town Hall to thr River Avon and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. It was a residential quarter in the 16th century, some of the buildings were rebuilt following a fire in 1595, although many, such as Number 40, date from 1480.
As the name suggests Sheep Street was, from early times and until the late 19th century, the area where sheep, brought from the neighbouring Cotswold Hills, were slaughtered and butchered. Today it is the restaurant centre of the town. Sheep Street also has some long established ladies 'gown' shops.
The Shrieves House is one of the oldest still lived in houses in the town and Shakespeare is said to have based his character of Sir John Falstaff on one of the residents, his godson's uncle. Oliver Cromwell is thought to have stayed here in 1651.
Behind The Shrieves House is a museum called "Tudor World" with recreations of 16th century life in theatrical settings. This includes the oldest surviving cobbled street in Stratford dating back to 1595 which can be seen in this image viewed from Sheep Street itself without entering the visitor attraction.
Uploaded
February 14th, 2013
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