Stratford upon Avon
By: Alexis, Ashtiné, Blakely, Dyana, & Jia Wen
Shakespeare's History
Stratford upon Avon
Stratford is located right in the center of England, and was an important river-crossing settlement, market town, and regional center. Stratford received its borough charter in 1553, eleven years before Shakespeare’s birth. His father, John Shakespeare, became mayor of Stratford when Shakespeare was three years old. By that time, John Shakespeare had become prosperous enough to buy two houses next to each other, which he made into one. This house on Henley Street, which is now known as ‘The Birthplace‘, and that was where Shakespeare grew up. Shakespeare attended the Grammar School, which still stands on the corner of Church Street and Chapel Lane. In November of 1582, he married Anne Hathaway. Her home, which is known as ‘Anne Hathaway’s Cottage‘, still stands in the village of Shottery, a mile from Stratford. Shakespeare left Stratford in 1587, and traveled to London. By 1592, he had become a successful actor and playwright. After becoming successful, he bought 'New Place', one of the biggest houses in Stratford in 1597, and that is where his family lived.