STRATFORD-ON-AVON

district, administrative county of Warwickshire, England. It is in the southern part of the county and occupies almost half of the county. Most of the district lies within the historic county of Warwickshire, but the parish of Oldberrow and an area along the River Stour from north of Alderminster to south of Shipston-on-Stour belong to the historic county of Worcestershire, and an area south of the River Avon and west of the Stour, including Welford and Upper Quinton, belongs to the historic county of Gloucestershire. The district's best-known feature is the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, famous for its associations with William Shakespeare. The district is overwhelmingly rural. In the vicinity of Alcester, an old village of Roman origin, are several large country houses open to the public; they include Ragley Hall and Coughton Court. Area 377 square miles (977 square km). Pop. (1998 est.) 114,700.