- Shakespeare Birthplace Trust places Hall’s Croft on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.
- The move signals The Trust’s long-term commitment to the conservation challenge of caring for the Grade I listed building.
- Hall’s Croft is one of the most important historic buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon, rooted in the place where Shakespeare’s story began and where his family life continued.
- Find out more about Hall’s Croft and its significance here: www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/halls-croft/
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT) has today confirmed that Hall’s Croft, the Grade I listed home of Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her husband Dr John Hall, has been placed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.
This important step reflects both the national significance of the building and the scale of the conservation challenge it now faces. It also signals a renewed focus on the Trust’s role as a careful and active custodian of Shakespeare’s heritage—caring for it in the present while shaping how it is understood and experienced in the future.
Hall’s Croft is one of the most important historic buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon, rooted in the place where Shakespeare’s story began and where his family life continued. It forms a vital part of a wider inheritance that connects Stratford to a global community drawn to Shakespeare’s life, times, and enduring influence.
The Trust is currently undertaking an initial programme of conservation work to stabilise the building and remove temporary steel supports installed in 2012. This phase of work, due for completion in October 2026, is largely funded by a £1 million donation from the playwright and philanthropist Ken Ludwig, alongside additional support, although a funding shortfall remains.
Once this stabilisation phase is complete, the Trust will move to develop a much larger, comprehensive, multi-year conservation programme. This next phase will include major work to the building’s façades, replacement of the roof, and significant intervention to the interior—ensuring the building can once again welcome visitors and play its full role within Stratford’s living historic landscape.
The full programme is expected to cost between £8 million and £10 million and will only be achievable through substantial external funding from institutional funders, philanthropists, and partners.
Placing Hall’s Croft on the Heritage at Risk Register is therefore both a recognition of urgency and a clear statement of intent. It brings into focus the scale of investment required, while strengthening the Trust’s ability to work with others to secure the building’s future.
More broadly, it reflects a commitment to uncover, care for, and share the rich and varied history of Stratford-upon-Avon—ensuring that these places remain not only preserved, but meaningful, relevant, and open to all.
Rachael North, Chief Executive of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said: “Hall’s Croft is a building of exceptional historical importance, and its condition demands a serious and sustained response. Inclusion on the Heritage at Risk Register is an important and necessary step. It allows us to be transparent about the challenges we face and to begin building the partnerships required to secure the building’s future.
We take seriously our responsibility to care for this inheritance, so that it can continue to inspire curiosity, connection and understanding for generations to come.”
Deborah Williams, Historic England Regional Director (Midlands) said: “Halls Croft is an internationally significant building and adding it to the Heritage at Risk Register is a positive first step in helping bring the building back into use. I know that Shakespeare Birthplace Trust take their role as custodians of this shared history very seriously and they understand that being added to the At Risk Register is the first step on the journey to be removed from it.”
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust will now begin detailed planning for the next phase of the Hall’s Croft conservation programme and will work closely with funders, partners, and stakeholders to secure the investment required to complete this vital work.
Find out more about Hall’s Croft, it’s history and importance, and the conservation that has taken place to-date, including the ongoing conservation of the interior of the building: www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/halls-croft/
Every year Historic England updates the Heritage at Risk Register. The end result is a dynamic picture of the sites most at risk and most in need of safeguarding for the future. The Heritage at Risk Register tells communities about the condition of their local neighbourhood. It encourages people to become actively involved in looking after what is precious to them. Find out more about Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register and find out how it makes a difference: historicengland.org.uk/listing/heritage-at-risk/
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For further information contact [email protected].