Today, we are continuing work on reshaping the topiary in the chess court. For several decades, this topiary has been presented in a wine goblet shape and is now changing over a couple of years to be chess castles or rooks. This transformation is not merely decorative; it is a strategic enhancement of the experience of one of the easiest of the Renaissance games the house is playing, and it is experienced in the journey of any visitor to Old Sir Rowland’s house in code.
Artistic ompresion of the revised form of the chess court topiary at soulton hall when finished
This refreshed topiary will guide visitors directly to the heart of the main corps de logis and immerse them in the world of strategic play. Its strong, cubic form will also offer a unique historical connection: it will help us imagine the continuation of the tower-like projections that disappeared during the 1600s roofscape remodeling, subtly bridging the past and the present.
Scholarly reconstruction of Soulton Hall in accession created by James D. Wenn and James R. Syrett of Byrga Geniht Ltd for Soulton Hall in 2024
The topiary also elevates the experience of crossing the court. Its solid, architectural presence, echoing the timelessness of Soulton Hall, transforms a simple walk into an engaging prelude, enriching your arrival at the house.
