Shakespeare's Stratford
In the late 16th century Stratford Upon Avon was still a small market town. It probably had a population of between 1,500 and 2,000. —A BRIEF HISTORY OF STRATFORD UPON AVON
The population of Shakespeare's Stratford can only be roughly estimated, but in 1600 was certainly no more than 2,500 and was probably less.—Shakespeare's Stratford
At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, 338 years after Shakespeare's birth, it was still a small, leafy town.
The "birthplace" (house and shop of John Shakespeare) was right downtown, on Henley St.
John Shakespeare probably conducted his business (fine leather goods) the western (left) end of this place, which was originally two separate buildings.
William Shakespeare was baptized in Stratford's Holy Trinity Church, probably very close to the place where his grave now is. In the interior view below, Shakespeare's monument, in the wall on the left, overlooks his grave, which is adorned with a bunch of white flowers at the foot and a candle in a tall candlestick at the head. This is the chancel of the church, and is in much better shape than it was in Shakespeare's time. Only two years after he was buried, the chancel was declared ruinous and boarded up.
When Shakespeare got to London, he found something very different from Stratford: This is a panoramic view of London, by Visscher, dating from 1616, the date of Shakespeare's death:
