The idea
The Spine is a historic main route linking the original settlement around the parish church to the commercial heart of the fully-fledged market town centred on the Market Hall, now Barclays Bank, at the top of Bridge Street.
Along this route - High Street, Chapel Street, Church Street and Old Town - is grouped a fine series of buildings from all periods, medieval to Victorian, including all but one of the town’s Grade I buildings and eleven of its fifteen buildings scheduled as Grade II. Our current scheme is the placing ceramic plaques by the buildings describing their history and significance. 10 of the 18 initially planned are in place or ready. Accurate dating of the buildings is critical both to the project and to enrich our knowledge of the town's heritage, and so we propose, wherever possible, a ring dating process, dendrochronology, for the timber-framed buildings.
What we'll deliver
- At least 8 additional Ceramic Plaques to bring the total to 18
- Dendrochronology for at least 6 timber buildings
- information about the plaques and the buildings on the spine
Why it's a great idea
Already the installed plaques are increasing the community's interest in the buildings along the Historic Spine. Achieving the funding required to install a further 8 plaques would further increase this effect and help to promote customer interest in local business in the town centre area around the Spine.
Steps to get it done
- Dendrochronology completed for one building
- Plaque created for first building
- Plaque laid outside first building
- All dendrochronology completed
- All plaques created
- All plaques laid
The project was initiated, and is led, by the Stratford Society. A working group which includes local councillors and representatives from other bodies with an interest in the success of the scheme, including the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Town Trust, Stratforward and King Edward VI School.
Visit the Historic Spine guide website to find out more:
www.xstore.me.uk/spine.htm#i
