Heritage Approved Commission
Design & Coordination of Memorial Bench at Shakespeare’s Churchyard
Situation
A memorial bench was commissioned for Holy Trinity, Stratford — Shakespeare’s Church, requiring rigorous heritage approvals and coordination within a highly regulated Grade I listed churchyard. As the designer, I managed the practicalities of incorporating timber from a significant fallen yew tree while organising installation around church activity, visitor flow and strict ecclesiastical constraints.
Solution
Heritage compliance management — Led the full approvals process with Holy Trinity’s councils and the DAC, preparing documentation, addressing conservation requirements and ensuring every element met strict ecclesiastical and heritage standards.
Tree‑sourced material handling — Selected and prepared timber from the fallen churchyard yew, working with irregular cuts and natural defects while preserving its symbolic importance.
Local maker collaboration — Partnered with a specialist local craftsperson capable of delivering complex joinery and producing a durable, weather‑resistant bench suited to long‑term outdoor use in a nationally significant site.
Careful project programming — Sequenced fabrication and installation around church services, visitor flow and environmental constraints to ensure safe, respectful delivery.
Outcome
A meaningful, site‑specific memorial bench crafted from Holy Trinity’s fallen yew tree, built by a local maker and installed with full heritage and DAC approval. Delivered within one of the UK’s most prestigious ecclesiastical settings. The project stands as a practical, compliant and enduring tribute — shaped through sensitive material handling, precise coordination and my role as designer in a complex historic environment.
Concept Sketch
Concept Sketch
Preserving the fallen and felled yew tree