Shakespeare family home in West Midlands medieval market town placed on 'at risk' watchlist after hit by car
The home which belonged to William Shakespeare's family is now at risk after being hit by a reversing car.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT) has confirmed that Hall’s Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon has been placed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.
Hall's Croft was home to the playwright's first child Susanna, who lived there with her husband John Hall - as well as the last living descendant of Shakespeare, Elizabeth Bernard.
The Grade I-listed structure was reversed into by a car in October 2025, causing "substantial damage" to one wall and exposing antique timbers to the elements.
Historic England has now placed the 400-year-old building onto its official Heritage At Risk register.
The building 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 Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, an organisation which preserves Shakespearean heritage in Stratford-Upon-Avon, has pledged to have it removed from the register and restore the home.
Placing it on the Heritage at Risk Register is both a recognition of urgency and brings into focus the scale of investment required.
The charity has already started work on a £1 million conservation effort to stabilise the building.
An extensive restoration, however, could cost up to £10 million and involve replacing the roof.
Historic England will monitor the work to preserve the site after it was added to the annually-updated list.
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