SLHS: Halls Croft
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History
It’s not known who built Hall’s Croft but it has taken up this name because in Tudor times the physician Dr John Hall (1575-1635) lived here. In 1607 he married Susanna Shakespeare (William’s daughter). They had one daughter Elizabeth.
It’s obvious that they entertained on many occasions and for that a separate kitchen was added at the rear.
During William Shakespeare’s lifetime (1564-1616) he bought the huge property built by Hugh Clopton at 22 Chapel Street (now known as New Place). When he died he bequeathed it to Susanna so she and her husband moved in there. Sadly in a fit of temper, roughly 150 years later in 1759, it was pulled down by Rev Francis Gastrell in an argument about house taxes.
Hall’s Croft was a very well appointed private residence but as such not much about it is known until in the 1870’s when it was noted in use as a school. By the 1880’s it was a private home again until it was bought by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1949. It continued to be used for educational purposes*.
Old Town
Further Information..
* In 1976 Matt Goodman attended a very early Discovering Microprocessors course run by Dr Noaks of Birmingham University -this set him off on a carear designing computers and fibre optic systems.
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SLHS Picture & Document Archives
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Present day: Halls Croft (36)
Hall’s Croft 1917. It’s not known who the people are at the front door (inset).
Rear of Hall’s Croft July 2024
Last update: 25/07/2024
Created: 11/12/2023