Hall's Croft, Stratford-upon-Avon (must see)

Just a few minutes south from New Place into the Old Town area, you're bound to spot Hall’s Croft at the corner of Church Street and Old Town. This place is hard to miss thanks to its traditional timber framing, three prominent gables, large leaded windows, steep tiled roofs, and tall red-brick chimneys. The oldest part of the present house dates from 1613, when it became the home of Susanna Shakespeare, William Shakespeare’s eldest daughter, her husband, the physician Dr John Hall, and their daughter Elizabeth. The family lived here until 1616, when they moved to New Place following Shakespeare’s death.

As you enter the house, look down at the floors. In some of the historic rooms, stone or flagstone flooring helps illustrate the comfortable social position of the Hall family. At a time when simpler homes commonly had beaten-earth floors, such materials were associated with a prosperous household.

Now, look around the rooms at the heavy oak furniture. These pieces help recreate the appearance of a well-to-do Jacobean home. Don't mistake them for the Halls' own belongings, however. The original furniture has not survived; what you see is period furniture selected to suggest how a household of this status might have appeared. The house also contains paintings and other objects from the 16th and 17th centuries.

As you continue through the interior, look for the displays connected with Dr John Hall. Medical instruments and other objects introduce you to the world of early 17th-century medicine. Hall was a respected local physician whose surviving case notes reveal the remedies and treatments he prescribed to his patients. Comparing his methods with modern medicine is one of the most interesting aspects of the house.

Finally, make your way toward the rear of the property and step outside into the walled garden. Paths lead through lawns and flowerbeds, with the timber-framed rear of Hall’s Croft forming a picturesque backdrop. Pay particular attention to the herbs and medicinal plants. John Hall is known to have grown herbs here for use in his medical practice, so the garden provides an important connection between the attractive surroundings and his profession.