Skip to main content
Soulton Before The TudorsThe Society PagesThe Wonderful Tudor World of the Lodges and the Hills

First Ever House Tours – Unlocking the Secrets of a Tudor Enigma

By 5 August 2024March 10th, 2025No Comments

A Journey Through Time and Discovery

Yesterday, Soulton Hall opened its doors to a public access heritage tour for the first time in history, in collaboration with the Historic Houses Association.

A chess board in chess court at Soulton Hall; the finials of the chess court gate sand in for two missin pawns on a modern board

Chess Court, Soulton Hall – one of the simpler codes built in to Soulton

This exclusive tour offered an unprecedented opportunity to explore the house’s hidden depths, including architectural puzzles, philosophical mysteries, and historical connections.

a black and wite image of a pavement of cobels showing how to do a danced

The Soulton Dancing Pavement, showing The Dance, which features in AS YOU LIKE IT

Visitors were granted rare access to the concealed chapel, a space previously only open to the public during occasional services led by local Christians. These services are facilitated by the Ashton family in recognition of Soulton Hall’s significance and Sir Rowland Hill’s legacy.

This image depicts a scholarly reconstruction of Soulton Hall, highlighting its architectural elements inspired by the ancient theater of Epidaurus. The yellow lines trace these features, revealing the Rowland Hill's homage to the renowned Greek structure.

This image depicts a scholarly reconstruction of Soulton Hall, highlighting its architectural elements inspired by the ancient theater of Epidaurus. The yellow lines trace these features, revealing the Rowland Hill’s homage to the renowned Greek structure.

The house’s history is deeply intriguing and the focus of the long story of Soulton is of course the refuge it represented during the Marian persecutions.

Properly unlcoking Soulton’s story involves consideration of life of Sir Rowland Hill, the current hall’s Tudor builder.

Surviving carvings from the Telesterion at Eleusis

Surviving carvings from the Telesterion at Eleusis

His legacy as a publisher of the Geneva Bible, inspiration for ‘Old Sir Rowland in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, and his role in as the preminent polymath of Tudor England are just some of the fascinating facets explored during the tour.

The Signatures of Old Sir Rowlnd Hill and Sir Thomas Lodge on the 1500s Soulton Papers

The Signatures of Old Sir Rowland Hill and Sir Thomas Lodge on the 1500s Soulton Papers

The inaugural tour of Soulton Hall was an overwhelming success, with unprecedented demand for tickets, and a long waiting list.

This remarkable response underscores the public’s fascination with this historic house and its enigmatic past.

A Tudor chair of estate made from oak sits on a platform between to candles on brass stands. Behind there is a a backcloth with a red seal on it.

Old Sir Rowland Hill’s Chair of Estate.

********

Due to popular demand, additional tour dates will be available for booking shortly through the Historic Houses website.

The Ashton family outside Soulton Hall

The Ashton family outside Soulton Hall