Memorial Details
What type of memorial is it?
How would you describe the memorial and its ornamentation?
Eighteen light oriel stained glass window with attendant cast bronze plaque, commemorating deceased members of the Frank Benson Company. The first windows were erected in 1905 following the deaths of two members of the Company in the Boer War, with further windows added later, including two to members killed in WW1 - who are also commemorated with other WW1 deaths in a separate window nearby (WMR 99453). The men are portrayed as one of the Shakespearean characters which they had played as members of the company. A cast bronze plaque beside the window carries the dedication, with the names of dead alongside the names of the characters by which they are portrayed.
Reason for status change (if applicable/optional)
13.10.2024 JMB working on this.
Location
Has this memorial been lost?
No
Location
Location
Is this the memorial's current location?
Yes
Building No
The Swan Rooms, formerly the Memorial Art Gallery
Building Name
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Street
Waterside
Town
Stratford-upon-Avon
County
Country
Postcode
CV37 6BB
OS map ref
SP 20316 54702

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window Location

Commemoration
What words are inscribed on the memorial?
On the windows: Henry V/ Hotspur/ Feste/ Amiens
On the plaque: The Benson Memorial Window/ (Names - and the character by which they are portrayed)
War
How many names are listed in total?
2
Which war or group does the memorial commemorate?
Is the total an exact count?
Yes
Of the names listed, how many served and returned?
0
Of the names listed, how many died?
2
What information is listed for those commemorated?
Forename, surname, and the character they are portrayed as in the window
How many names are listed in total?
2
Which war or group does the memorial commemorate?
Is the total an exact count?
Yes
Of the names listed, how many served and returned?
0
Of the names listed, how many died?
2
What information is listed for those commemorated?
Forename, surname, and the character they are portrayed as in the window
Condition
Is the writing on the memorial difficult to read?
No
Which organisation is the custodian of the memorial?
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Components
Component Details
Which memorial component are you recording?
What condition is this component in?
What materials has this component been constructed from?
Listing Information
Does it have listed status?
No
Component Details
Which memorial component are you recording?
What condition is this component in?
What materials has this component been constructed from?
Listing Information
Does it have listed status?
No
History
Maker
Maker
Person or organisation involved in the making of the memorial
Messrs. Pearce of Birmingham
What role did they have in the making?
Ceremony
Ceremony
Ceremony
What was the purpose of the ceremony?
When did it take place?
1st May 1905
Who was present?
Mrs Charles Flowers - widow of the 'munificent founder of the Memorial Theatre'.
Ceremony
What was the purpose of the ceremony?
When did it take place?
1st May 1905
Who was present?
Rev.. F. H. Hodgson
References
References
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Tuesday 02 May 1905 Page 3
PLAYER'S TRIBUTE.
BENSONIAN WINDOW UNVEILED AT STRATFORD.
THE "HAPPY FEW."
---
Evesham Standard & West Midland Observer - Saturday 06 May 1905 Page 5
STRATFORD-ON-AVON.
MEMORIAL WINDOW UNVEILED.
(list of names of who died).
---
Image(s)
Memorial Image
Media ID
132608
Image
The oriel window - with the plaque to the right
Priority
0
What is the image's caption?
The oriel window - with the plaque to the right
Who is it credited to?
David Long
Date Taken
16/02/2022
Who took or provided this image?
David Long
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Reference
146720
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Filename
bensonians_oriel_-_1.jpeg
Media Image Height
854
Media Image Width
1280
Media ID
132609
Image
The plaque
Priority
1
What is the image's caption?
The plaque
Who is it credited to?
David Long
Date Taken
16/02/2022
Who took or provided this image?
David Long
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Reference
146721
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✔
Media Filename
bensonians_oriel_-_2.jpeg
Media Image Height
1074
Media Image Width
1280
Media ID
132610
Image
George Hippesley - as Henry V
Priority
2
What is the image's caption?
George Hippesley - as Henry V
Who is it credited to?
David Long
Date Taken
16/02/2022
Who took or provided this image?
David Long
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Reference
146723
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Filename
bensonians_oriel_-_3_-_hippesley.jpeg
Media Image Height
1280
Media Image Width
417
Media ID
132611
Image
Alfred Ferrand - as Hotspur
Priority
3
What is the image's caption?
Alfred Ferrand - as Hotspur
Who is it credited to?
David Long
Date Taken
16/02/2022
Who took or provided this image?
David Long
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Reference
146724
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Filename
bensonians_oriel_-_4_-_ferrand.jpeg
Media Image Height
1280
Media Image Width
479
Media ID
132612
Image
Charles Bibby - as Feste
Priority
4
What is the image's caption?
Charles Bibby - as Feste
Who is it credited to?
David Long
Date Taken
16/02/2022
Who took or provided this image?
David Long
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Reference
146725
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Filename
bensonians_oriel_-_5_-_bibby.jpeg
Media Image Height
1280
Media Image Width
423
Media ID
132613
Image
Guy Rathbone - as Amiens
Priority
5
What is the image's caption?
Guy Rathbone - as Amiens
Who is it credited to?
David Long
Date Taken
16/02/2022
Who took or provided this image?
David Long
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Reference
146726
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Filename
bensonians_oriel_-_6_-_benson.jpeg
Media Image Height
1280
Media Image Width
385
Media ID
132614
Image
The oriel window from the outside
Priority
6
What is the image's caption?
The oriel window from the outside
Who is it credited to?
David Long
Date Taken
16/02/2022
Who took or provided this image?
David Long
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Reference
146727
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Filename
benson_oriel_-_exterior.jpeg
Media Image Height
1280
Media Image Width
854
Media ID
185460
Image
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Priority
10
What is the image's caption?
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Who is it credited to?
David Austin
Date Taken
3rd October 2024
Who took or provided this image?
David Austin
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Image Height
1940
Media Image Width
1104
Media ID
185461
Image
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Priority
9
What is the image's caption?
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Who is it credited to?
David Austin
Date Taken
3rd October 2024
Who took or provided this image?
David Austin
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✔
Media Image Height
1092
Media Image Width
1371
Media ID
185462
Image
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Priority
11
What is the image's caption?
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Who is it credited to?
David Austin
Date Taken
3rd October 2024
Who took or provided this image?
David Austin
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Image Height
2270
Media Image Width
1513
Media ID
185463
Image
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Priority
7
What is the image's caption?
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Who is it credited to?
David Austin
Date Taken
3rd October 2024
Who took or provided this image?
David Austin
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Image Height
1094
Media Image Width
1641
Media ID
185464
Image
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Priority
8
What is the image's caption?
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Who is it credited to?
David Austin
Date Taken
3rd October 2024
Who took or provided this image?
David Austin
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Image Height
1094
Media Image Width
1641
Media ID
185465
Image
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Priority
12
What is the image's caption?
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford - The Old Bensonian Boer War Memorial Window
Who is it credited to?
David Austin
Date Taken
3rd October 2024
Who took or provided this image?
David Austin
What is its licence type?
Standard WMA terms
Is this image evidence of inscribed names?
✖
Media Image Height
1094
Media Image Width
1641