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New Archaeological Exploration Targets Old Sir Rowland’s Orchards

By 13 June 2024June 22nd, 2024No Comments

Soulton Hall, prepares for another season of archaeological exploration.

The dig season commences this week and focuses on a specific area identified for its potential to unveil hidden secrets.

This targeted area at Soulton Hall, which is an orchard to the south of the Medieval Base Court of the 1400 (to which the current hall was added in the 1550s by Sir Rowland Hill), has piqued the interest of archaeologists from Dig Ventures.

Since these are the orchards of Old Sir Rowland, the are many who would link these lines to the site of the investigation:

OLIVER: Know you where you are, sir?
ORLANDO:  O, sir, very well: here in your orchard.

….

OLIVER: [threatening Orlando] What, boy!
ORLANDO: [holding off Oliver by the throat] Come,
come, elder brother, you are too young in this.
OLIVER: Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain?
ORLANDO: I am no villain. I am the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys. He was my father, and he is
thrice a villain that says such a father begot villains.

– William Shakespeare, As You Like It. Act 1, scene 1.

We believe it might hold significant evidence related to the less well understood arheology of the C15th and C16th of this site and develpments upt to the C20th.

Archaeologists stand by a trench exposing a timber bridge and stone footings on Soulton Mound

Soulton Hall has been the setting of a number of digs with Dig Ventures

Unearthing the lives of those who inhabited Soulton Hall centuries ago, offering a fascinating glimpse into an importat time here connected to the Geneva Bible and Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

Continuing a long-standing collaboration, Soulton Hall welcomes back a team of experienced archaeologists and enthusiastic students from Dig Ventures.

The upcoming dig season promises to be a significant step forward in understanding Soulton Hall’s rich history.

We have already unlocked a lot of understanding of the 1200-1400s phase over at Soulton Mound.

Stay informed! Follow Soulton Hall on social media (links in footer) for updates on the dig’s progress and any exciting discoveries that may be unearthed.

‘Old Sir Rowland’: Publisher of the Geneva Bible and contended inspiration for AS YOU LIKE IT