E X T E N S I O N STRATFORD-UPON-AVON Stratford (mid-nineteenth-century watercolor copy of an earlier painting). William Shakespeare s hometown of Stratford and the beautiful countryside of Warwickshire around it inspired many of his works. In his day it was a quiet little Midlands market town of about 200 houses. In 2009, it was voted the most popular small town in the world and you will quite understand why if you visit it. The river Avon runs peacefully through it, the swans and ducks happily dive1 beneath the willow trees on its banks, and the streets are full of colourful flowers. Shakespeare s Birthplace Trust has looked after the playwright s heritage2 and makes it possible for us to look into his life. The curious visitor is able to see the house in Henley Street where William was born, and New Place, the house he died in. Unfortunately, the original was destroyed in 1759 by its owner at the time, Rev. Francis Gastrell (some people say because he was so fed up3 of tourists looking at it!) but the remains of an old well4 in the garden date back to Shakespeare s time. The old school which William went to can be visited, while the large black and white house where his daughter Susanna s husband (Dr Hall) lived, now stands among today s shops and crowded pavements. The Royal Shakespeare Company has its theatre beside the banks of the Avon and it is an emotional experience to watch one of his plays here. The theatre was first built in1879 in memory of England s most famous playwright and poet, but in 1926 it caught fire. A new one was 1. dive: go under water. 2. heritage: history and traditions. 3. fed up: unhappy with a situation. 4. well: a deep hole with water in it. 21