Stratford-Upon-Avon Landmarks Tour

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1 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 - Stratford-Upon-Avon Landmarks Tour Stratford-Upon-Avon has many interesting landmarks, many of which are from the Victorian era. A tour around Waterside and High Streets has some architecturally remarkable buildings, especially the bank buildings, the old ones, and those on Market Cross. Some attractive sites and landmarks are located by riverbanks and they are always full of outdoors enthusiasts. Guide Location: England» Stratford-upon-Avon # of Attractions: 9 Tour Duration: 1 hour(s) Travel Distance: 1.7 km Please note: This walk is also featured in the ios app "Stratford-upon-Avon Map and Walks" on itunes App Store and the Android app "Stratford-upon-Avon Map and Walks" on Google Play. The apps provide GPS navigation to guide you from one tour stop to the next, so you will never be lost. The apps offer additional walking tours in Stratford-upon-Avon. Check them out! GPSmyCity offers self-guided walking tours in over 1,000 city around the world. Please visit gpsmycity.com for more walking tour offers. List of attractions included in this self-guided walking tour: A) Swan Theater B) Cox's Yard C) Shakespeare Memorial D) Old Bank E) Market Cross F) Shakespeare's Birthplace Giftshop G) White Lion Inn / Witchcraft and Wizardology Museum H) The Jester I) White Swan Hotel Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 -

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3 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 - A) Swan Theater (must see) The Swan Theatre is a theatre belonging to the Royal Shakespeare Company. It is built on to the side of the larger Royal Shakespeare Theatre, occupying the Victorian Gothic structure that formerly housed the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre that preceded the RST but was destroyed by fire in The space was to be dedicated to playing the works of William Shakespeare's contemporaries, the works of European writers and the occasional work of Shakespeare. The Swan has subsequently been used for many other types of drama including the works of Chekhov, Ibsen and Tennessee Williams. The Swan Theatre has recently been refurbished. The Transformation project included new facilities and public spaces for the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres - a Rooftop Restaurant with views over the River Avon, a Riverside Cafe and Terrace, the PACCAR Room exhibition space, a 36m high tower which provides circulation and outstanding views from its 32m high viewing platform, a new public outdoor space, Weston Square, to connect the theatre with the old medieval town to the west, and a riverside walk which stretches from the Bancroft Gardens, past the theatre, towards Holy Trinity Church. The whole building is now accessible for the first time for all visitors, performers and staff. "(The above description is based on Wikipedia under Creative Common License)" Address: Waterside, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6BA, UK Image Courtesy of Flickr and araqnid. Sight description based on wikipedia B) Cox's Yard Cox's Yard is a famous entertainment complex, located riverside, at the foot of Clopton Bridge. The site used to be a timber warehouse owned by James Cox, who opened his business in Stratford-Upon-Avon in 1839, when there was a building boom. Featuring great food, live music and theater performances, the Cox's Yard is one of the most popular places for both Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 -

4 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 - locals and tourists. The site was preserved and has been successfully converted from a warehouse into a now-flourishing entertainment venue. Address: Bridgefoot, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6YY, UK Image Courtesy of Flickr and Delmonti C) Shakespeare Memorial (must see) In 1877 a committee was created in Stratford-upon-Avon to erect a memorial to Shakespeare. This originally comprised a theatre building, to be sited on land donated by the bank of the Avon within sight of the church where Shakespeare was buried. A statue was also created in 1888, the work of Lord Ronald Gower. This is situated in Stratford's Bancroft Gardens. The monument shows Shakespeare seated on a pedestal, surrounded, at ground level, by statues of Hamlet, Lady Macbeth, Prince Hal, and Falstaff. These characters were intended to be emblematic of Shakespeare's creative versatility: representing Philosophy, Tragedy, History, and Comedy. Another statue is present in a niche on the exterior of the town hall building. "(The above description is based on Wikipedia under Creative Common License)" Address: Bridgefoot, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37, UK Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Tom Reedy. Sight description based on wikipedia D) Old Bank The Old Bank is a remarkable example of the 19th century Victorian architecture in this predominately Tudor-style town. The sturdy corner building is made from red brick and bears Gothic features, along with flamboyant arches and friezes. The entrance is decorated with marble columns. Above the main porch you will find a beautiful mosaic, representing Shakespeare. The site is still a working bank. Address: 13 Chapel Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6ET, UK Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 -

5 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 - Image Courtesy of Flickr and puptoes74 E) Market Cross The Market Cross is another Stratford-Upon-Avon landmark with a commercial background. It's now a nice little traffic roundabout, surrounded by more recent commercial buildings. In the Middle Ages it used to be the site of an open Market Hall and it was reputed to be the best place for local gossips. Market Cross joins five streets and is the site of several architecturally-interesting buildings, such as Barclays Bank (which has a clock tower on top), and the gabled Victorian Lloyd's of London Bank. Address: Market Cross, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6AP, UK Image Courtesy of Flickr and RachelH_ F) Shakespeare's Birthplace Giftshop Shakespeare's Birthplace Gift Shop is the top spot for Stratford-Upon-Avon visitors. Located next door to the famous house, it has a variety of items for home decor, gift books, pewter items, apparel, toys, prints etc, and all related to Britain's most treasured bard. Shakespeare's characters are present in the items found here. Address: Henley Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6QW, UK Image Courtesy of Flickr and ell brown G) White Lion Inn / Witchcraft and Wizardology Museum The White Lion Inn was a public house, an example of Elizabethan architecture that first appears in historical records in either 1541 or The building was mentioned by both Harriet Beecher Stowe and Rupert Graves. The Witchcraft and Wizardology Museum is a privately amassed collection of ephemera and articles that reflect on the history of Witchcraft and Wizardology from pre-christian times to the present day. Concentrating on providing a fair and balanced viewpoint that remains family orientated Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 -

6 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 - whilst retaining the darker and more sinister aspects of human sacrifice and the Knights Templars link to the craft. Amassed over 40 years, this collection of articles, rituals and ephemera challenges the accepted stereotypes of witches whilst avoiding the standard "everything behind a glass case" approach. Encouraging a hands on approach to the more traditional aspects of witchcraft it provides a focal point for discussion and those seeking knowledge in a non threatening environment. Regularly described as one of the most haunted buildings in the country by the owner and visited by paranormal investigators, parapsychology groups and ghost hunters, it continues to offer a glimpse into the world of the supernatural and the unknown. Address: 21 Henley Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6QW, UK Image Courtesy of Flickr and ell brown. Sight description based on wikipedia H) The Jester (must see) The Jester is one of the most recent and famous Stratford landmarks. At the junction of Henley and Windsor Streets, the bronze Jester welcomes the public with a pole, a mask of comedy, and an extended heel, while hiding a tragedy mask behind his back. The statue was a gift from Anthony Bird, a native of Warwickshire. The Jester appeared in many Shakespeare plays, so his appearance just several yards from the poet's birthplace is rather symbolic. The Jester's plinth bears many interesting and appropriately funny Shakespearian quotations. Address: Henley Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37, UK Image Courtesy of Flickr and Dave Hamster Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 -

7 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 - I) White Swan Hotel The White Swan Hotel is ever faithful to the Stratford-upon-Avon picture perfect postcard, since it's establishment in the mid 16th century. Located at Rother Marketplace, the black and white Tudor-period inn used to be a bakery and undoubtedly is one of the few oldest preserved buildings in town. The hotel boasts that the former bakery had Shakespeare among its faithful bread buyers. Address: Rother Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6NH, UK Image Courtesy of Flickr and Martin Pettitt Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 -