Stratford sits on the banks of the Avon River in southwestern Ontario's Perth County. The first settlers, in the 1830s, named the town and river after Stratford-upon-Avon in England, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
Stratford has its own stop on the Toronto-to-Sarnia rail line, and is about a two-hour drive from Toronto.
The city offers a small-town setting with a robust arts community, first and foremost of which is the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. The repertory theatre runs from spring to early fall.
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More Arts Stories
14 WATERLOO ST. NORTH
ASKING PRICE: $389,900
AGENT: Marian deWever, Coldwell Banker All-Points Festival City Realty, Stratford
THE PROPERTY: A detached house with five bedrooms and four bathrooms on a 63- by 82-foot lot.
DESCRIPTION: This 2½-storey Victorian home is just steps from the river. Main-floor living and dining rooms have hardwood floors and large windows, while the updated kitchen has an island and gas stove. There also is a laundry room on this level. Two of the five bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms.
NOTABLE: The Duncan Hall Bed and Breakfast currently operates in the house. Details about the sale of the business are available from the agent.
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9 EAST GORE ST.
ASKING PRICE: $299,000
AGENT: Marlene Lindsay, Coldwell Banker All-Points Festival City Realty, Stratford
THE PROPERTY: A detached house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms on an irregular lot measuring 119 feet on one side.
DESCRIPTION: This two-storey, triple-brick Victorian was built in 1866, and features a wraparound porch and private fenced yard. The main-floor includes a formal dining room and a living room with hardwood flooring and a gas fireplace.
The home also includes a heated workshop with an eight-foot ceiling.
NOTABLE: A circular staircase leads from the entrance to the second-floor bedrooms, laundry facility and Victorian-style bathroom.
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171 DOUGLAS ST.
ASKING PRICE: $429,000
AGENT: John Moroz, Sutton Group Preferred Realty Inc., London
THE PROPERTY: A detached home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms on a 97- by 116-foot lot.
DESCRIPTION: This 2½-storey, centre-hall Victorian house is only a few blocks from the river and a short walk from downtown. Main-floor rooms feature original woodwork and 10-foot ceilings. Three of the four bedrooms on the second floor have bay windows, and the full second-floor bathroom has a whirlpool tub. There is an in-ground heated pool in the backyard.
NOTABLE: A stairway on the second floor leads to an unfinished attic, an open space of about 1,000 square feet with some utilities roughed in.
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