Book reveals Alveston Manor history

AFTER publishing a book about the Welcombe estate, just outside of Stratford, an author has written a book about Alveston Manor Hotel, in the town centre.

John Richard Hodges, author of Welcombe House – The Story of a Victorian Calendar House, has published his latest book Alveston Manor.

With the famous ‘kissing tree’ in its gardens where allegedly William Shakespeare had his first kiss and where A Midsummer Night’s Dream was first performed, the 21st Century four-star hotel John has written about the interesting history, which runs from pre-Roman times.

The book covers the connections with Worcester Cathedral who owned land from the 10th to the 16th Century.

A small Anglo Saxon monastery was also found on the site, on Banbury Road, and Roman artefacts, with links to the distant past.

John’s book looks at some of the personalities who have occupied the Manor House, and ran the different hotels up to the present day. The Bird family bought the manor in the 1930s and turned it into the first hotel.

During the Second World War, the Canadian Army and Air Force had connections at the manor.

After the war, the manor again reverted to a hotel.

The book can be purchased from the hotel reception or from John Hodges at richardjhodges79@gmail.com