About
Hall's Croft is a striking Jacobean townhouse in the Old Town area of Stratford-upon-Avon, managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. It was the home of Dr John Hall and his wife Susanna, eldest daughter of William Shakespeare, who lived here from their marriage in 1607 until at least 1616, the year of Shakespeare's death. The house is one of the finest examples of Jacobean domestic architecture in Warwickshire, and its association with Shakespeare's own family makes it an essential stop on any pilgrimage to the playwright's home town.
Dr John Hall was one of the most distinguished physicians of his age in provincial England. A Cambridge-educated doctor who developed his practice in and around Stratford after settling in the town around 1600, Hall was famous for treating patients of all social classes across a wide area of the Midlands. His detailed case notes, published posthumously as Select Observations on English Bodies, provide a fascinating and medically sophisticated account of his treatments and patients, and are regarded as an important document in the history of English medicine.
The house is named after Hall, who was probably its most notable resident, though Susanna Shakespeare Hall is herself a figure of considerable historical interest. Intelligent, literate, and respected in the community, Susanna was said by contemporaries to resemble her father in wit as well as features. Shakespeare left the bulk of his estate to Susanna, and she and her husband were clearly trusted custodians of his legacy in Stratford after his death in 1616.
The interior of Hall's Croft is displayed with a combination of period furniture, decorative art, and an interpretive exhibition focused on Elizabethan and Jacobean medicine. The medical displays draw on the contents of Hall's casebook and on wider knowledge of early seventeenth-century medical practice to create a compelling portrait of medicine in the age of Shakespeare. The dispensary is particularly memorable, stocked with herbs, instruments, and apparatus that illuminate the extraordinary complexity and sophistication of Hall's practice.
The walled garden at Hall's Croft is a tranquil and beautiful space, planted with many of the herbs and plants that Hall would have used in his medical preparations. The garden provides a living connection to the medical practice of the house and a peaceful retreat from the busy streets of Stratford. It is particularly lovely in late spring and summer when the herb beds are in full growth.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
💡 Visitor Tips
- Combine Hall's Croft with Holy Trinity Church, just 2 minutes walk away, where Shakespeare is buried — a very rewarding pairing.
- A combined ticket for all five Shakespeare Birthplace Trust properties is excellent value — Hall's Croft, while smaller, has the most distinctive thematic content of any of the five.
- The walled herb garden is a particular highlight in late spring and summer — fragrant and beautifully maintained.
- The reconstructed dispensary is unlike anything else in Stratford — allow extra time to absorb the medical history on display.
- The property is on a quieter part of the Old Town than the main Shakespeare properties and tends to be less crowded.
- Susanna Shakespeare's story is told particularly well here — read the interpretation carefully to appreciate her remarkable character.
- The cafe seats outside in the walled garden on fine days — a lovely spot for a coffee after exploring the house.
- Visit in the early afternoon to avoid morning crowds, which tend to go first to Shakespeare's Birthplace.
Highlights
Discover the unique exhibits and collections at this museum.
Collections
Hall's Croft holds a collection of period furniture, decorative art, and medical objects displayed within the historic rooms of the Jacobean house. The medical collection, centred on the reconstructed dispensary, is the most distinctive element, complemented by period room furnishings and interpretive displays relating to the Shakespeare family.
Dr Hall's Practice: Jacobean Medicine
An exploration of Dr John Hall's medical practice through his casebook, the reconstructed dispensary, medical instruments, and displays on early 17th-century medicine.
The Hall Family: Shakespeare's Daughter
Exploring the lives of Susanna Shakespeare Hall, Dr John Hall, and their daughter Elizabeth — the final generation of Shakespeare's direct family.
The Walled Herb Garden
A planted garden of medicinal and culinary herbs connected to Hall's medical practice, with planting inspired by his casebook and 17th-century herbals.
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Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.