Stratford upon Avons earliest history; archaeological finds suggest the area known as Stratford-upon-Avon was inhabited in the bronze age, earliest settlers in Stratford were probably farmers.

The name Stratford is Saxon and means the area where a road (Strat) crosses a river (Avon) by a ford ( ford). This refers to a Roman road crossing the Avon near a Roman settlement Stratfordae.

By AD 691 there was a monastery very near the site of the present day parish church of Holy Trinity. The first documented reference to a place of worship in the area is in the charter of AD 845 granting privileges to a small existing minster church. Nothing remained of this monastery at the time of the Norman conquest (1066).

Stratford continued to grow around Holy Trinity Church, relativley untouched by the upheaval of the Norman Conquest.The Normans are thought to be the first of many foreign tourists welcomed to the area.

This is because the Saxon Bishop, Wulfstan of Worcester, Stratford was part of Worcester diocese, supported the invaders, no doubt forseeing the towns potential for tourism and trade.

The transitional period from the old to the new order was more of an evolutionary than a revolutionary process as far as this area was concerned. An increase in agriculture following the clearing of the nearby Forest of Arden.In 1196 a charter was obtained from King Richard I for a weekly market for local produce.

Around this market Stratford upon Avon town emerged. So by the 14th century, a small manor owned by the Bishop of Worcester, Stratford had become a centre of trade for the area.The market was in Rother Street but later moved to the junction of High Street, Bridge Street and Henley Street.

The last remnant of the medieval fairs in Stratford was the Mop, now corrupted by a modern travelling fairground which visits Stratford twice a year. The local council allow this but no longer encourage bear baiting at the fair.