<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2009-12-14</periodOfReport>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0000093556</issuerCik>        <issuerName>STANLEY WORKS</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>SWK</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001214743</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>BEATT BRUCE H</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 STANLEY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>NEW BRITAIN</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>06053</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>            <officerTitle>V.P., Gen. Counsel &amp; Sec'y</officerTitle>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2009-12-14</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>428</value>                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>49.4968</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>21713</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <footnotes>        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to 10b5-1 Plan</footnote>    </footnotes>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>Bruce H. Beatt</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2009-12-16</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>