Guildhall, King Edward VI Grammar School Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Text courtesy of Historic England. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

SP2054NW CHURCH STREET 604-1/10/52 (East side) 25/10/51 Guildhall, King Edward VI Grammar School (Formerly Listed as: CHURCH STREET (East side) King Edward VI Grammar School; The Old Vicarage; The Pedagogue's House)

GV I

Formerly known as: Guildhall (part) CHURCH STREET. Guildhall, now school, incorporating slightly earlier house to rear. c1417, bay to left end slightly later. For the Guild of the Holy Cross. Timber-frame with plaster infill on renewed ashlar base; tile roof. L-plan. 2 storeys; 6-window range. 1st floor jettied on joist ends with moulded bressumer. Entry to left end bay has iron gates. Ground floor has 5-light windows with leaded glazing behind diagonal wood mullions and plain sills, 3-light window to left end; 1st floor has 4-light windows, but one to left end of 2 lights and one to centre of 3 lights, leaded glazing. Close studding with tension braces to right end. Rear has jettied 1st floor and gabled wing to left with inner return lean-to outshut and outer return gabled wing; return entrance and elliptical arch to through-passage; varied fenestration including large 6- and 7-light diagonal-mullioned windows to ground floor, cross-casements to 1st floor; wing has 1st floor 4-light ovolo-mullioned and transomed window, similar 3-light windows to gabled dormers to outshut, one to return. INTERIOR: hall has double-chamfered beams and C15 moulded spine beam, blocked south window; signs of dais and remains of C15 wall paintings and inscription; C20 stair and original winding stair. Over Hall has varying arch-braced tie beam trusses with collars and struts, signs of partitioning to 2nd from south; plaster panel with inscribed names etc, and old desks and master's chair; wing (armoury) has early C17 panelling and fireplace with painted Stuart arms, ogee-headed doorway has remains of painted decoration; upper room has moulded ceiling beams to c1500 ceiling now removed and painting of Tudor roses etc; ogee-headed doorway with battened wide-boarded door with strap hinges. HISTORICAL NOTE: the guild was founded in 1269 and refounded after amalgamations in 1403; it was suppressed in 1547 and the Guildhall passed to the corporation, who used the hall for meetings until 1842; plays were performed here 1569 and later. The guild's school was reconstituted as the present grammar school in 1555, the Over Hall being used for teaching; its most notable pupil was, it is said, William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. (VCH (offprint): Styles P: The Borough of Stratford-upon-Avon and the Parish of Alveston: London: 1946-: 12; Fogg N: Stratford-upon-Avon: Portrait of a Town: Chichester: 1986-: 3-9, 19; Forrest H E: The Old Houses of Stratford-upon-Avon: London: 1925-: 129FF; Puddephat W: The Guild Chapel & Other Guild Buildings of Stratford-upon-Avon: Stratford-upon-Avon: 1987-).

Listing NGR: SP2011354695