Stratford’s historic spine revealed with plaques outside key buildings along designated route
THE final two pavement plaques marking significant buildings along Stratford’s historic spine have now been installed – one outside the almshouses in Church Street and the other outside the Shakespeare Hotel in Chapel Street.
And members of the Stratford Society, which initiated the project, gathered at the almshouses plaque to mark the completion of the project.
The Pavement Plaque project was a development of the Stratford Society’s ‘Historic Spine’ initiative of 2008 to draw attention to the fine range of buildings gracing the historic route along High Street, Chapel Street, Church Street and Old Town. This linked the original settlement clustered round the parish church to the centre of a new town laid out around 1200. The focal point of this new town was at the top of Bridge Street.
Initially the society focused on producing an illustrated plan of this route. This included images of the best buildings, with historical notes explaining their architectural and/or historical importance. First published in 2008, this has been through several editions. The latest is still available and a version is also available on the society’s website.
The next stage was to sponsor a scheme to install pavement plaques in front of the best buildings. These would be made by Ned Heywood of Chepstow. It was hoped that the owners of the buildings concerned would support the venture and many generous offers were made.
The society paid for their installation and also drew on its own reserves when necessary.
