Damage assessed after Shakespeare family home hit

Damage to a listed building once owned by Shakespeare's daughter, caused when a car backed into it, could accelerate planned conservation work costing millions, a charity has said.

The side of the Grade I listed Hall's Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon was struck on Friday, causing "substantial damage to the fabric of the building", the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust said.

It added that it was assessing the full extent of the damage, including to 17th Century timbers, in consultation with structural engineers and heritage specialists.

However, it warned that it might be unable to fund the full work from its own resources.

Hall's Croft was the former home of the playwright's daughter Susanna and her husband Dr John Hall.

Other parts of it were already part of a major conservation programme, funded by US philanthropist and playwright Ken Ludwig, the trust said.

It added that as a charity it needed to "raise the resources needed for conservation through visitors, grants, donations, and partnerships".

The birthplace trust has previously said the rising cost of conservation work and a shortage of skilled craftspeople made it "ever harder to protect these remarkable buildings".

News of the latest incident has led to messages of support and donations from people around the world.

The trust said its estates and conservation teams acted swiftly to make the site safe and secure.

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