Haunted Hosts

Alveston Manor stands just east of the medieval Clopton Bridge, positioned at the gateway between Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding countryside. The nucleus of the building dates to around 1500 or earlier, constructed as a half-H plan timber-framed structure with cross-wings projecting to the south. It was always of two storeys, and successive generations extended it substantially. Around 1600, a projecting wing was added to the north front at the east end. Further wings followed during the 17th century, and a late 18th-century wing extended the west end northward. A fire destroyed an ancient wing at the south-west corner within living memory of the 1945 Victoria County History survey, and it was replaced with a modern timber-framed section. The manor's most celebrated claim is that Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream received its first performance on the Cedar Lawn in the grounds. While this remains unverified, the property's proximity to Shakespeare's Stratford and its Elizabethan origins place it firmly within the cultural landscape of the Bard's world. The building retains significant period features. The hall occupies the middle of the main block, with a late 16th-century chimney stack and moulded stone fireplace. Stop-chamfered beams and joists line the ceiling. A door from the hall to a former entrance lobby carries nine panels of early 16th-century linen-fold carving. An Elizabethan well-type staircase features square newels with moulded heads, flat silhouette balusters, and moulded handrails. A second staircase follows the same design but dates from the late 17th century. The property became a hotel under the Macdonald Hotels group and now operates as a four-star establishment with spa facilities, conference rooms, and extensive grounds running down to the River Avon.