Stratford-Upon-Avon is located in Warwickshire, in the heart of England. The town of Stratford, which was originally a market town, lies on the Avon River, about 8 miles downstream from the county town of Warwick. The name Stratford means street-ford. In Roman times this was a crossing point, a ford, over the Avon.
There are many Stratfords and Stretfords in England (Stratford Gloucestershire, Fenny Stratford, Stoney Stratford, Water Stratford, Stratford Langbourne, Stratford le Bow, Old Stratford, Stratford St Andrew, Stratford St Mary, Stratford sub Castle, Stratford Toney, Stratford-upon-Avon, and 2 Stetfords). They are all located at points where old Roman roads cross rivers. The Roman road that crossed the Avon at Stratford-upon-Avon was the Salt Road to Alcester (the modern A422). In medieval times a wooden bridge was built, alongside the ford, and at the end of the fifteenth century the stone bridge shown here was constructed. The main part of the town lies on the right bank.
The house in which Shakespeare was born is in Henley Street, in the centre of the town. The house has been owned by Shakespeares from the time of Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare. Today the Birthplace is owned by The Shakepeare Birthplace Trust. The house holds documents, portraits, pictures and old coins.
The old Grammar School, where Shakespeare went to school, was built in 1428 as the home of a religious guild.