SLHS: Masons Croft
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Nathaniel Mason
In 1724, similar to Trinity Court next door, another prominent lawyer, Nathaniel Mason, had a large two storey home built with additional dormer attic rooms. Bob Bearman indicates that this was probably built by Master Mason Francis Smith of Warwick.
Thomas Mason
In 1735, Nathaniel’s son had a library, with bay window, added to the left. Thomas died in 1867.
Further Information..
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Birmingham University:
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Theatres ●
To return to Master Page click on ‘Prominent Buildings’ above.
● Home of Marie Corelli
Mason Family
In 1897 the successful novelist Marie Corelli (see shortcut above) was living in Kensington and had had a very severe illness. She had also grown weary of petty rumour spread about her and so sought out residence in the quiet end of a town that she greatly admired. She first rented Halls Croft and then the Dower House. In 1900 she bought Masons Croft. Structurally she kept the house very much the same but encouraged a great deal of greenery to grow front and rear (see below left). Eventually she had a Summer House built to the rear.
She died in 1924, leaving everything to her companion Bertha Vyver who died in 1941, with the request that the property be assigned for “Cultural Use” in future. The Shakespeare Institute fit that bill.
Marie Corelli
A postcard from 1920s
Shakespeare Institute
SLHS Picture & Document Archives..
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Picture Vaults: Exterior and interior: Masons Croft
Last update: 31/10/2024
Created: 03/12/2023
As it is today. Notice the entrance portico is no longer extant April 2024 With Mason Family Crest.
In 1951 Birmingham University took on responsibility for the building and under Allardyce Nicoll it was first developed into The School Of English, Drama & Creative Studies. Subsequent Directors have been Philip Brockbank, Stanley Wells, Peter Holland and Kate McLuskie. The current Director is the exceedingly polite and helpful Professor Michael Dobson who may be seen in the pictures here. He gave a guided tour and permission to publish the pictures taken. There is a fuller Picture Archive accessed below.
Reception
Above the entrance is still Marie Corelli’s monogram
The rear garden is maintained well. The is a summer house through the stone arch.
Marie made the library into a snug lounge in the centre of the ground floor. It is now a small lecture room
The central staircase ascends two floors
The ballroom now functions as an impromptu theatre with small stage
Marie’s large bedroom has now succumbed to the inevitable invasion of IT
A large proportion of student are from overseas. A group got together to produce a timeline of British and world history, from Shakespeare’s time to present, to help with orientation of those unfamiliar with the successes and otherwise of a culture they may not know