Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire
Guild Chapel and Guild Hall
The fraternity of the Guild of the Holy Cross was already in existence in 1269 when Godfrey Giffard, Bishop of Worcester granted a licence to the brethren and sisters to build a chapel and to found a hospital for the poor priests of the diocese. The hospital is believed to have been on the site of the nave, the chapel being the size of the chancel.
Between 1424-27 the chancel was repaired and decorated with red lead, vermillion, white lead and yellow oil, paid for by Thomas Payntour.
The chancel and north wall were rebuilt & refurbished 1449-52 , larger windows were inserted and the roof made shallower. The hospital was used for Guild meetings.
It was enlarged with nave, porch & tower c1495 & decorated with wall paintings, all paid for by Hugh Clopton, a local man who became a rich mercer & Mayor of London
By the end of the 15c the powerful Guild had become the town's semi official governing body, focused on the welfare of its members. It built the Guild Hall in 1418-1420 , schoolhouse in 1427 where Shakespeare was educated, and alms houses that dominate Church Street with a schoolmaster to teach the members' children. The chapel became so important to the townspeople that the clergy of the parish church complained that people often attended the chapel rather than the church.
The school was open to any local boy who could read and write and was generously supported by the town, the headmaster having an annual salary of £20, twice as much as the headmaster of Eton at that time. Boys normally attended for 7 - 8 years beginning at the age of seven for 6 days a week. The day was long , the pupils sitting on hard wooden benches from six in the morning to five or six at night , with only 2 short breaks for meals. Discipline was strict , with the emphasis on reading, writing and reciting latin grammar
After the suppression of the Guild in 1547 by Edward Vl, their property confiscated to the Crown, the king issued a Royal Charter of Incorporation granting ownership of the chapel (and the civic duties of the Guild) to the Mayor & Alderman & Burgesses of the town
Queen Elizabeth l passed a Royal Injunction in 1559 demanding "removal of all signs of superstition and idolatry from places of worship". Surviving records say that John Shakespeare father of the playwright, who was chamberlain of the Corporation in 1563 authorised payment of 2s for "defasyng ymages in ye chappell" The paintings were thankfully only whitewashed thus preserving rather than defacing,
In early 17c the nave was repainted in monochrome to imitate columns etc , with possibly the addition of panelling . The chapel and nave were divided by a wall and the chancel sub divided and rented out. The vicar was trouble with the Corporation for allowing "his children to play at ball and other sports therein, his servants to hang clothes to dry, his pigs and poultry and dog to lie and feed in it, the pictures defaced and the windows broken"
In 1641 the chancel screen was removed and the interior limewashed again. A new decorative scheme of red panels divided by pilasters was painted over the earlier wall paintings. The Doom was overpainted and covered with prayer boards.
In early 18c the interior was repainted with imitation red and pink marble pilasters with Corinthian capitals The font was installed .
Chapel of the Guild of the Holy Cross next to the Guildhall.
In 1804 major refurbishment was undertaken. The fine 15c ceiling and roof was taken down having become unsafe and replaced with the current lower plastered ceiling which cut through the top of the hidden Doom painting . The wall paintings were discovered and recorded in drawings by T Fisher. Sadly the chancel paintings were destroyed by the "improvements" The nave was painted white.
In 1835 a wooden gallery was inserted against the nave west wall possibly re-using carvings from earlier timber screens or rood loft. Box pews and panelling were also installed.
In 1929 the Doom, Dance of Death & Life of Adam paintings were uncovered once more and conserved by Tristram using a wax application.
Now in severe disrepair , the Friends of the Guild Chapel was formed 1955-62 and sought to restore & embellish the fabric. The gallery, box pews, double decker pulpit and chancel floor were removed and new pews and panelling was installed by Dykes-Bower.
In 2001 all was taken over by the Stratford Town Trust and in 2014 a new organ and organ loft was installed.
In 2016 the Doom underwent further conservation, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Sadly the beautifully preserved head of Christ and the 4 angels are in the loft space , obscured from view but still beautifully preserved
The Guildhall was built in 1417-20 as the headquarters of the Guild of the Holy Cross. In 1553 following the suppression of the Guild, th building was granted to the newly formed Stratford Corporation by Edward Vl. It served a the council's meeting place for the next 300 hears, including the year 158-9 hen William Shakespeare's father John served as bailiff. The Guild's scull refounded as the Kyng's Newe Scole " in 1553 occupied part of the upper floor from the 1560s and it ws here that William Shakespeare was educated.
In the late 1500s travelling players performed regularly in the Guildhall providing Shakespeare with his first experience of professional theatre. The Guildhall continues to be used or teaching by King Edward Vl School.
Further down is Nash's House in Chapel Street next door to the ruins and gardens of William Shakespeare's final residence, New Place (Thomas Nash was the 1st husband of Shakespeare's granddaughter Elizabeth, and a wealthy local property owner - he is buried in the parish church www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/vm6M80 ) - Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire
Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire
Guild Chapel and Guild Hall
The fraternity of the Guild of the Holy Cross was already in existence in 1269 when Godfrey Giffard, Bishop of Worcester granted a licence to the brethren and sisters to build a chapel and to found a hospital for the poor priests of the diocese. The hospital is believed to have been on the site of the nave, the chapel being the size of the chancel.
Between 1424-27 the chancel was repaired and decorated with red lead, vermillion, white lead and yellow oil, paid for by Thomas Payntour.
The chancel and north wall were rebuilt & refurbished 1449-52 , larger windows were inserted and the roof made shallower. The hospital was used for Guild meetings.
It was enlarged with nave, porch & tower c1495 & decorated with wall paintings, all paid for by Hugh Clopton, a local man who became a rich mercer & Mayor of London
By the end of the 15c the powerful Guild had become the town's semi official governing body, focused on the welfare of its members. It built the Guild Hall in 1418-1420 , schoolhouse in 1427 where Shakespeare was educated, and alms houses that dominate Church Street with a schoolmaster to teach the members' children. The chapel became so important to the townspeople that the clergy of the parish church complained that people often attended the chapel rather than the church.
The school was open to any local boy who could read and write and was generously supported by the town, the headmaster having an annual salary of £20, twice as much as the headmaster of Eton at that time. Boys normally attended for 7 - 8 years beginning at the age of seven for 6 days a week. The day was long , the pupils sitting on hard wooden benches from six in the morning to five or six at night , with only 2 short breaks for meals. Discipline was strict , with the emphasis on reading, writing and reciting latin grammar
After the suppression of the Guild in 1547 by Edward Vl, their property confiscated to the Crown, the king issued a Royal Charter of Incorporation granting ownership of the chapel (and the civic duties of the Guild) to the Mayor & Alderman & Burgesses of the town
Queen Elizabeth l passed a Royal Injunction in 1559 demanding "removal of all signs of superstition and idolatry from places of worship". Surviving records say that John Shakespeare father of the playwright, who was chamberlain of the Corporation in 1563 authorised payment of 2s for "defasyng ymages in ye chappell" The paintings were thankfully only whitewashed thus preserving rather than defacing,
In early 17c the nave was repainted in monochrome to imitate columns etc , with possibly the addition of panelling . The chapel and nave were divided by a wall and the chancel sub divided and rented out. The vicar was trouble with the Corporation for allowing "his children to play at ball and other sports therein, his servants to hang clothes to dry, his pigs and poultry and dog to lie and feed in it, the pictures defaced and the windows broken"
In 1641 the chancel screen was removed and the interior limewashed again. A new decorative scheme of red panels divided by pilasters was painted over the earlier wall paintings. The Doom was overpainted and covered with prayer boards.
In early 18c the interior was repainted with imitation red and pink marble pilasters with Corinthian capitals The font was installed .
Chapel of the Guild of the Holy Cross next to the Guildhall.
In 1804 major refurbishment was undertaken. The fine 15c ceiling and roof was taken down having become unsafe and replaced with the current lower plastered ceiling which cut through the top of the hidden Doom painting . The wall paintings were discovered and recorded in drawings by T Fisher. Sadly the chancel paintings were destroyed by the "improvements" The nave was painted white.
In 1835 a wooden gallery was inserted against the nave west wall possibly re-using carvings from earlier timber screens or rood loft. Box pews and panelling were also installed.
In 1929 the Doom, Dance of Death & Life of Adam paintings were uncovered once more and conserved by Tristram using a wax application.
Now in severe disrepair , the Friends of the Guild Chapel was formed 1955-62 and sought to restore & embellish the fabric. The gallery, box pews, double decker pulpit and chancel floor were removed and new pews and panelling was installed by Dykes-Bower.
In 2001 all was taken over by the Stratford Town Trust and in 2014 a new organ and organ loft was installed.
In 2016 the Doom underwent further conservation, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Sadly the beautifully preserved head of Christ and the 4 angels are in the loft space , obscured from view but still beautifully preserved
The Guildhall was built in 1417-20 as the headquarters of the Guild of the Holy Cross. In 1553 following the suppression of the Guild, th building was granted to the newly formed Stratford Corporation by Edward Vl. It served a the council's meeting place for the next 300 hears, including the year 158-9 hen William Shakespeare's father John served as bailiff. The Guild's scull refounded as the Kyng's Newe Scole " in 1553 occupied part of the upper floor from the 1560s and it ws here that William Shakespeare was educated.
In the late 1500s travelling players performed regularly in the Guildhall providing Shakespeare with his first experience of professional theatre. The Guildhall continues to be used or teaching by King Edward Vl School.
Further down is Nash's House in Chapel Street next door to the ruins and gardens of William Shakespeare's final residence, New Place (Thomas Nash was the 1st husband of Shakespeare's granddaughter Elizabeth, and a wealthy local property owner - he is buried in the parish church www.flickr.com/gp/52219527@N00/vm6M80 ) - Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire