Note: Hall’s Croft is currently closed to the public until further notice.
Every year over 100,000 visitors travel to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit sites associated with William Shakespeare, one of the most famous writers in the world. There is much unknown about the life of Shakespeare’s family but in Stratford-upon-Avon, fans of the bard can experience what is was like to live in his world.
In Stratford-upon-Avon, there are many sites of importance to either Shakespeare himself or to his family that still exist today. The sites are also fantastic and somewhat rare examples of what it was like to live in 16th & 17th century England. One of these fascinating remaining sites is Hall’s Croft, the home of Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her husband Dr. John Hall.
The History of Hall’s Croft
William Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna married Dr. John Hall in 1607 at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. As Hall was new to the town at the time, the newlywed couple moved in with William and his wife Anne at their home, New Place. In 1613, the couple then moved into a newly built Jacobean House, known today as Hall’s Croft.
Susanna and John lived in Hall’s Croft over the next three years as John continued to work as a respected physician in the town. At a time in history when the ailing had a number of options for methods of treatment, Dr. Hall’s preferred method was treating patients with herbs. While he would not have actually treated patients within his home, the interior of Hall’s Croft would have been used for creating medicines and conducting research. The garden of the house would have also been used for growing the many plants and herbs he was known to use.
In 1616, when William Shakespeare became ill, Susanna and John decided to leave Hall’s Croft and move back to her parents to take care of her father. The house lay vacant for about a decade after they left and it is believed they eventually sold the property. From the 1600s to the 1800s the house had a number of owners and was even used as a private boarding school during the latter half of the 19th century.
In 1949, the house was ready to be sold on when there was an interest in purchasing from the Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust. The Trust had already purchased properties such as Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage for purposes of restoration and preservation. Their interest ended up in the auction of Hall’s Croft being cancelled and it was sold to the Trust for £11,000. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust undertook a massive job to restore the property and opened the building to the public as a tourist attraction in 1950. In its first year, over 30,000 tourists visited Hall’s Croft and it remains a popular attraction to this day.
Visiting Hall’s Croft Today
Hall’s Croft makes for a fascinating stop if you’re planning to visit Stratford-upon-Avon. Not only does it give in insight into the life of the wider Shakespeare family, but it also gives a sense of how professionals would have lived in early 17th century England.
While sections of Hall’s Croft have changed since the days Susanna and John inhabited the property, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has done a great job at making it feel like a 17th century home. During the restoration project, it was a priority of the Trust to make it feel as authentic as possible and while the home doesn’t contain any of the original furniture, it is furnished with a number of Jacobean pieces authentic to the time.
Visitors can wander through Hall’s Croft and take a look at the original parts of the house as well as later additions, such as the 18th century kitchen. There is also a medical display of objects from the 16th & 17th centuries that gives an idea of what it would have been like to be treated by a physician during this time.
Visitors to Hall’s Croft can also explore the garden, where plants and herbs would have been grown for Dr. Hall’s medicinal practice. Though the garden is much smaller than it would have been in Susanna and John’s time, it is still a lovely spot perfect for wandering around on a nice day.
Whether inside or outside, Hall’s Croft is an impressive ode to the Jacobean age and an essential stop for those looking to further explore the Shakespeare story.
Tips for Visiting Hall’s Croft
Is Hall’s Croft open?
At the moment, Hall’s Croft is currently closed to the public until further notice. However, you can still walk by the outside of this stunning building. You can visit the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust website to stay up to date on openings.
Where is Hall’s Croft located?
Hall’s Croft is located in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon and is about a 10 minute walk from Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Henley Street. Hall’s Croft is also a stop on the City Sightseeing Stratford-upon-Avon hop on hop off bus, which takes you to all of the major Shakespeare sites in the town.
How much does it cost to visit Hall’s Croft?
When the site is open, a single ticket to one of the Shakespeare sites usually costs between £15-£20, but if planning to visit more than one site, I highly recommend purchasing the Shakespeare’s Story ticket. This allows you to visit multiple sites for a much cheaper cost (usually around £27).
How long do you need to visit Hall’s Croft?
At the moment, you’ll only need a couple of minutes to explore the outside of the building. When open, Hall’s Croft is still one of the quicker sites to make your way through and about half an hour is sufficient to visit both the inside of the house as well as the gardens. When open they also have a café , where visitors can stop for lunch or a cup of tea.
What else is there to do nearby?
I always recommend staying overnight in Stratford-upon-Avon because there are so many wonderful things to do. If you’re interested in learning more about William Shakespeare you can visit a number of other sites associated with the writer including Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage or New Place. On a nice day, you can rent boats to take out on the River Avon or go for a meal in one of the many great restaurants in town. For a further list of recommendations see 10 Historical Things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon.
This article’s information was last updated in July 2022.