Soulton Hall’s architectural design incorporates a fascinating juxtaposition between overt symbolism and concealed functionality.
The eastern facade of Soulton Hall (like the whole project of Soulton Hall), was meticulously crafted of ‘Old’ Sir Rowland to do many things at once.
One of these things ‘Old’ Sir Rowland was evoking was the form of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem – which serves as a bold statement of religious belief. However, nestled discreetly within the basement lies something revealing a hidden layer of purpose. The emphasis (and primacy) placed by the builders of Souton Hall on the eastern facade is undeniable. It has perfect symmetry, and all the other faces do not (quite), underscores its symbolic significance.
This true intrigue lies beneath that cyphered façade.
Tucked away in the basement there is a concealed chapel, known to us today as the the Ædicule.
The very existence of this room speaks to the need for a hidden space of worship during a period of religious unrest, while the centrality of the Ædicule within the eastern facade reinforces its symbolic importance.
Notably, Soulton Hall’s builders prioritized the chapel’s placement, even requiring elabrate measures to be depoyed to work around the need to stop the run of a load-bearing wall to accommodate the room.
This prioritization underscores the centrality of faith in the building’s conception.
Furthermore, the Ædicule’s placement plays a crucial role in determining the overall alignment of Soulton Hall. Its alignment, focused on dawn at Easter, shows us a clever astronomical-liturgical function for the concealed chapel.
The existence of the Ædicule sheds light on the complex religious landscape of the 16th century. Constructed during a period where open displays of Protestant faith could be met with persecution, the concealed chapel provided a safe haven for religious practice.
Soulton Hall thus becomes a testament to both the boldness of its architectural symbolism and the necessity for clandestine spaces of worship during a turbulent historical period.
