At
the time of Shakespeare's birth Stratford-upon-Avon was a
prosperous market town with a population of around 2,000. This environment was
soon to be disrupted by the Plague that claimed about 250 victims among the Stratford folk.
Towards the end of the 16th century the town's economic prosperity declined
with the crisis of the wool trade. Again, towards the end of the 16th century,
and precisely 22 September 1594, a fire destroyed many of the timber-framed
houses in High Street, Chapel Street and Henley Street. In 1612 a third fire
broke out destroying more than 50 other buildings. Yet another fire in 1641
destroyed much of Bridge Street.
During
the English Civil War, in 1643, Parliamentary soldiers occupied Stratford-upon-Avon and the
explosion of three barrels of gunpowder almost destroyed the Town Hall and
damaged surrounding buildings. More than 60 people died in another plague in 1645.
Modern Stratford
A
temporary economic recovery came in the second half of the 17th century but it
was only in the 1760s that the direction of economic recovery was firmly
established. The major exponent of the revival of Shakespearean drama, the
actor David Garrick, went to Stratford-upon-Avon and a
three-day celebration of Shakespeare was organized centering on his historic
visit. However, it was only when improvements in transport in the early 19th
century, making the town more easily accessible, did a steady flux of visitors
arrive to boost the almost static economy of Stratford. Since then tourism has
become the main source of income for the town