“Researchers claim to have re-discovered forgotten meanings in UK buildings”

“The key is a crystal in the shape of a rhombic dodecahedron”

We are absolutely thrilled to see the work of our colleagues James Wenn and James Syrett of Byrga Geniht making such a significant impact in the national press today.

James Wenn (left) and James Syrett say they have re-discovered forgotten meanings contained in shapes in UK architecture (Byrga Geniht/PA)

From the Independent to nearly 250 regional titles across the UK and abroad, the story of the “forgotten meanings” in our historic architecture is finally getting the public stage it deserves.

At Soulton Hall, we have been privileged to work closely with the team at Byrga Geniht. However, it is important to clarify a point that some readers might have missed amidst the excitement: while Soulton Hall has become a vital focal point for this research—a “Tudor moment” where these ancient codes were preserved in brick and stone—this is not “just” a Soulton story. The research into the rhombic dodecahedron and the geometry of harmony was well underway before the researchers first set foot at Soulton.

What began as a “lightbulb moment” involving a garnet crystal in 2019 has since grown into a vast, interdisciplinary investigation.

While we are proud of how Soulton Hall’s 16th-century design embodies these principles, the scope of this discovery is truly universal. The use of this specific 12-sided geometry—the “shape of the universe” according to Plato—has deep roots that the researchers have traced through:

Classical Antiquity: From the philosophy of the Greeks to the theater at Epidaurus.

Saxon Britain: Identifying the “Garnet Code” in the jewelry of Sutton Hoo and the Staffordshire Hoard.

The Middle Ages: Decoding the hidden volumes of the Coronation Pavement at Westminster Abbey.

Across Europe and America: Following the thread of “Harmony” into the Renaissance of continental Europe and eventually across the Atlantic.

This was not an obscure niche; it was a massive part of Western culture for nearly two millennia. It was a shared language of order and peace that only began to fade from our collective memory in the early 20th century, largely due to the tragic disruptions of the First World War.

The Story Heard ‘Round the Country and beyond

At the time of writing, this breakthrough is being celebrated in over 250 newspapers. We are delighted that so many communities are now looking at their own local landmarks—from the Old Bailey to the spires of Oxford—with fresh eyes.

Explore the coverage across the islands:

• National: The Independent, The Evening Standard

• Scotland: The National, The Herald

• The Island of Ireland: Ireland Live, The Belfast Telegraph

• Regional Networks: Including the York Press, The Northern Echo, and the Oxford Mail.

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