The Guild Hall

The Stratford Guild Hall is a building of great historic significance. Built in around 1416 and located in central Stratford, the Guild Hall still serves as a schoolroom and has been kept as it was in Shakespeare's day.

With similar institutions in the town, the Guild Hall served as a meeting-place, and as the location for annual and other feasts. The Guild's role was religious, but also commercial and educational.

It is likely that Shakespeare gained his first experience of theatre here. The upper chamber was used as a schoolroom, where in all probability Shakespeare was taught. The Guild Hall is today in the ownership of King Edward VI School, with the upper chamber ('Big School') still used for teaching and the lower chamber employed as the school library.