Stratford-On-Avon
a town of Warwickshire, England; 8 miles S. W. of Warwick; on the right bank of the Avon river. The river is here crossed by a fine bridge of 14 pointed arches, now nearly_400 years old, still known as Clopton Bridge, after its builder, Sir Hugh Clopton, an alderman of London, but born in the neighborhood of Stratford, who is also interesting as the builder of the house called The New Place, which was the property of Shakespeare in his later years and the house in which he died, but was destroyed by the owner in 1759. The grounds are now open free. "Shakespeare's House," that is, the house in which he was born, having been purchased by subscription and dedicated to the public in 1847, was restored in 1859, and now contains the Shakespeare library and museum, the Stratford portrait, etc. In the cruciform parish church are his grave and portrait bust, also the font in which he was baptized.
The old parish register with the entry of Shakespeare's baptism and burial, is shown near the N. door of the church.
The central tower of the church dates from the 13th century. Other monuments are the Shakespeare Memorial Theater, built in 1879 at a cost of over $200,000, intended for occasional Shakespearean celebrations, and possibly as a dramatic college, and having attached to it a Shakespeare library ary and museum; the Shakespeare fountain, built by an American, and the Shakespeare monument. Anne Hathaway's cottage, in the neighboring hamlet of Shottery, in the parish of Stratford, was acquired in the public interest in 1892. Among other interesting remains of Shakespeare's time or memorials of Shakespeare are the grammar school in which he was educated (originally endowed in 1482, refounded under Edward VI.), the adjoining Guildhall, in which strolling players used to perform in Shakespeare's time (both buildings restored since 1891), the town hall (rebuilt in 1768 on the site of an older structure of 1633), containing in a niche on its N. side the statue of Shakespeare presented by David Garrick.
Apart from Shakespeare, the town is in- STRATFORD-ON-AVON STRATUM teresting as containing the early home Canadian House of Commons for Selare several interesting places besides those in and about Stratford, among Canadian Pacific Railway Company; and of America's oldest university. There for Montreal West in 1877-1896. He are several interesting places besides those in and about Stratford, among these the cottage of Mary ry Arden (the Avon parallel to the bridge on the road from London to the N. W. Shakeowes its name to the old ford of the Avon parallel to the bridge on the road from London to the N. W. Shake- Here in August, 1914, the sword of Shakespeare's father was drawn from Here in Aug August, 1914, the sword of Shakespeare's father was drawn from at war. The tradition runs that it must not be sheathed until victory crowns British arms. Pop. about 8,500. was a director of the St. Paul, Minnecorporations and organizations. He was Northern Railway of Minnesota; and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company; and intimately connected with many other corporations and organizations. He was made High Commissioner for Canada in toria Hospital, Montreal, also $
1,000,000 over $
1,000,000 to McGill and Royal Victo the King Edward Hospital Fund. He versity, Lord Rector in 1903. He gave endowed chairs in many colleges and contributed generously to various edutoria Hospital, Montreal, also $
1,000,000 endowed chairs in many colleges and to the King Edward Hospital Fund. He given to the extensive valley of Scotland cational funds. He died in 1914.