Ode to Mary King

Reading Room at Stratford-sub-Castle

If Mary King could pause from tatting lace,

As in her photograph, and through the glass

Her gaze extend, we’d see across her face

Benevolence and joy and pride to pass,

For glancing through that pond’s mutating skin

Called time, she’d see and hear her Reading Room

Replete with hum of chat and wagging chin,

The warp and weft of conversation’s loom,

A modern version of the Sunday Teas,

Victoria Sponge and jam and scones and all,

A scene of active chatter which must please

The benefactor of this parish hall,

The wondrous din speaks clearly a success,

Dear Mary King bequeathed such happiness.

Alan Doel 3rd May 2026

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Ed: Alan Doel sent this message to the village website:

As ever, I enjoyed today's event at the Reading Room. I was interested in writing a sonnet about the day, and have managed to link it to the photograph of Mary King, who is seen in her image paused in the act of tatting lace, something ladies in social situations would often do (a bit like knitting at a social occasion).  I hope you enjoy it!

The image of Mary King to which Alan refers is mounted on the wall between the two blue doors on the left side of the Reading Room - see the café image above, taken at an earlier café.

Our local history section includes information about the founding of the Stratford sub Castle Reading Room. Scroll down this page https://www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/reading-room-history to read about Mary King.

For information about the Stratford Summer Cafés 2026 with links to images of past cafés, see https://www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/caf%C3%A9s

The Stratford sub Castle Reading Room is available to hire for private functions - see https://www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/village-hall