Stratford City Hall and the Perth County Courthouse are the two grandest heritage buildings in the middle of the city, and both are free to admire from the street. City Hall, at 1 Wellington Street, was completed in 1899 and is a Canadian National Historic Site, a red-brick Queen Anne Revival building with a clock tower, rich decorative detail and an auditorium that is still a working civic space. It was designed by George W. King. A short walk away, the courthouse at 1 Huron Street was built in 1887 to a design by George F. Durand and is a High Victorian example that mixes brick and stone masonry with other materials and styles. Its interior has stained-glass windows, detailed woodwork, decorative tile floors and grand staircases, and many of its original features survive. Together they show a side of Stratford that is easy to miss if you only follow the theatre crowds: a prosperous railway and market town that built confidently in the late nineteenth century. For visitors the buildings are good for photographs, for a short architecture-spotting walk and for understanding how the town grew.
What to do
Start at the front steps of City Hall and look up at the clock tower and the brick and stone detail, then walk to the courthouse and compare the two styles. If the buildings are open for a visit, look at the stained glass, the woodwork and the staircases in the courthouse and the auditorium and council chambers in City Hall.
A short guided history and heritage walk operated by Stratford Walking Tours has started from the City Hall steps on set weekend times and covers about one to one and a half kilometres in 30 to 40 minutes, with stops that include the courthouse, the Shakespearean Gardens, the Avon River and Memorial Gardens. Ask at Destination Stratford or check its pages for the current schedule.
Seasons and planning
The outsides of the buildings are always there to admire, but interior access depends on opening hours and events. Both have been part of Doors Open Stratford, an annual heritage weekend held in spring, when public buildings open their doors and offer self-guided visits, usually free. Outside that weekend, the interiors are open at set civic times, and the courthouse is a working government building, so access can change without notice.
Check the City of Stratford and Perth County pages or call ahead before you plan a visit around an interior. The walking tour has run rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
Fitting it in
Allow 30 minutes for the exteriors and a self-guided stroll between the two, or 45 minutes to an hour if you join a guided walk or find the interiors open. The buildings are in the middle of downtown, so they sit beside the Avon Theatre, the chocolate and bacon trail shops and many of the restaurants, and they make an easy addition to a food or shopping day.
Children usually enjoy the clock tower and the unusual rooflines, and the walk is flat and short. Wheelchair access has been noted for both buildings during Doors Open, but check conditions before you rely on it. It is a good rainy-day idea when interior doors are open and a good sunny-day idea for photographs.
What to expect
The experience
Two free-to-view Victorian landmarks in downtown Stratford, with a short guided heritage walk on set days and interior visits at set times.
Best time
Any time for the exteriors; spring during the annual Doors Open weekend for the interiors.
How long
Allow 30 minutes to an hour, depending on whether you join a guided walk.
Tips
Check the City of Stratford and Perth County pages for interior access, and join the heritage walk from the City Hall steps when it runs.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Architecture and history fans, and anyone who wants a free downtown stroll between meals.
- Families
- Children like the clock tower, and the walk is short and flat.
- Couples
- Stroll the two buildings at dusk, then have dinner downtown.
- Pair with
- The Avon Theatre, the Shakespearean Gardens, the Avon River and the trails are all close by.
- Time needed
- About 30 to 60 minutes.
Good questions
Where are City Hall and the courthouse?+
City Hall is at 1 Wellington Street and the Perth County Courthouse is at 1 Huron Street, both in downtown Stratford.
When were they built?+
City Hall was completed in 1899 and the courthouse in 1887.
Can I go inside?+
Interior access depends on opening hours and events, such as Doors Open Stratford in spring. Check the City of Stratford and Perth County pages or call ahead.
Is there a guided walk?+
A 30 to 40 minute history and heritage walk by Stratford Walking Tours has started at the City Hall steps on set weekend times. Check for the current schedule.
Is it free?+
The exteriors are free to see, and Doors Open visits are usually free. Check for any fee on guided walks.
