| | According to the ''[[Domesday Book]]'', a survey completed at the behest of [[William the Conqueror]], the town had recorded population of 29 households in 1086, putting it in the top 40% of English settlements in size at the time. At the time, Stratford (recorded in the book as ''Stradforde'') formed part of the lands of the Bishop of Worcester and the now-defunct Pathlow Hundred of Warwickshire.<ref>[https://opendomesday.org/place/SP2055/stratford-upon-avon/ Stratford [-upon-Avon] | Domesday Book]</ref> The name Pathlow survives in the name of a hamlet around 3 miles to the north of the town. | | According to the ''[[Domesday Book]]'', a survey completed at the behest of [[William the Conqueror]], the town had recorded population of 29 households in 1086, putting it in the top 40% of English settlements in size at the time. At the time, Stratford (recorded in the book as ''Stradforde'') formed part of the lands of the Bishop of Worcester and the now-defunct Pathlow Hundred of Warwickshire.<ref>[https://opendomesday.org/place/SP2055/stratford-upon-avon/ Stratford [-upon-Avon] | Domesday Book]</ref> The name Pathlow survives in the name of a hamlet around 3 miles to the north of the town. |
| − | The town became home to the Shakespeare family in 1551 when John Shakespeare (1531-1601), originally a farmer, moved to the town from Snitterfield, around 5 miles to the north-east. In the 1560s, [[William Shakespeare]], who is regarded by many as "England's national poet", was born in the town. The world-renown actor, poet and playwright was baptized in the town on 26 April 1564.<ref name="BL" /> | + | The town became home to the Shakespeare family in 1551 when John Shakespeare (1531-1601), originally a farmer, moved to the town from Snitterfield, around 5 miles to the north-east. In the 1560s, [[William Shakespeare]], who is regarded by many as "England's national poet", was born in the town. The world-renown actor, poet and playwright was baptized in the town on 26 April 1564.<ref name="BL" /> Shakespeare's sister, Joan, was born 5 years later and is the only one of John Shakepeare's 8 children to have known living descendants in the 21st century. |