William Shakespeare's family home is seeking a £500,000 repair after a driver shattered several oak beams in a car crash.
A £2.5million restoration project has been launched for Hall's Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon after a motorist accidentally reversed into the Grade I-listed building in October.
The historic property, which served as the residence of William Shakespeare's daughter Susanna and her husband, the physician John Hall, sustained damage to its façade during the incident on October 17.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which manages the site, has now embarked on an extensive conservation programme to safeguard the culturally significant structure.
The charity is seeking public support to help fund the ambitious project, which aims to preserve one of Warwickshire's most treasured heritage buildings.
They described it as: "One of the most intimate, human connections we still have to William Shakespeare’s life.
"When you step inside Hall’s Croft, you don’t just sense history - you feel it.
"You feel the presence of a real family, a real daughter, a real household where Shakespeare would have visited, shared meals, laughed, argued, told stories - the things we all do in our own homes with our own families."
Hall's Croft which served as the residence of William Shakespeare's daughter Susanna and her husband, the physician John Hall
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Investigations into the collision damage uncovered far more serious structural concerns affecting the building, prompting an acceleration of planned conservation efforts.
The Trust had already initiated a conservation programme in 2024, with a second phase of works scheduled for the future.
However, the October incident forced the charity to bring forward these plans immediately.
A Trust spokesman explained: "While insurance will cover the repair of the immediate damage, the incident revealed just how urgent the wider structural issues are — and it has forced us to move straight into Phase 2 of the conservation programme."
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Hall's Croft sustained damage to its façade during the incident on October 17
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The organisation stressed that major works must commence without delay rather than waiting months or years.
The Trust has launched an initial fundraising appeal for £500,000 to begin immediate conservation work, though the complete restoration will require five times the amount.
Planned works encompass major conservation of the entire front elevation, structural stabilisation of key timbers and load-bearing elements, specialist repairs using traditional materials, and preventative conservation measures.
Rachael North, the Trust's chief executive, said: "Incidents like this are a stark reminder of how vulnerable our heritage is, and how vital it is to invest in its protection."