Supporting & Unlocking Soulton’s Story Together – Our Heritage, Our Future
Soulton Hall, a place of profound cultural significance that shaped the English Renaissance and inspired Shakespeare, currently thrives through the dedicated work and commercial activities of the Ashton family.
We are deeply committed to fulfilling a number of vital non-commercial objectives that extend beyond these operations.
Soulton Hall: birthplace of the Elizabethan Golden Age
Our vision for Soulton Hall’s future is ambitious: to not only meticulously preserve its rich heritage but also to cultivate it as a vibrant hub for learning, community connection, and ecological conservation.
Recognizing that we currently receive no government funding to support this crucial work, we are immensely grateful for any assistance that allows us to progress more rapidly and broadly in achieving these aims.
Old Sir Rowland, a preeminent Tudor statesman, Shakespearean heroe, and a true polymath. Soulton Hall, his rural headquarters, was designed with a coded architecture to transmit knowledge across centuries.
The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation
Looking ahead, the establishment of The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation will be the cornerstone of this vision, a dedicated organization to champion the substantial heritage importance of this remarkable Shropshire estate. The Foundation’s core aspirations are built upon five key pillars:
- Establishing Strong Governance: To build a robust and effective organization guided by expertise and sound principles, ensuring long-term sustainability and impactful action.
- Ensuring Physical Preservation: To meticulously care for Soulton Hall’s historic buildings and grounds, safeguarding their architectural integrity for generations to come.
- Promoting Ecological Stewardship: To actively protect and enhance the natural environment of Soulton Hall, fostering biodiversity and sustainable practices.
- Expanding Access and Understanding: To make Soulton’s history and significance accessible to all through engaging programs and resources for diverse audiences.
- Advancing Knowledge through Research: To continuously deepen our understanding of Soulton Hall’s past and its ecological context through dedicated scholarly inquiry.
The Soulton Hall Reserved Fund
While these aspirations form the long-term framework for The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation, we recognize the need for immediate action.
To this end, we have established the Soulton Hall Reserve Fund.
Prior to the Foundation’s formal launch, this dedicated fund allows us to directly channel philanthropic support into pressing projects that align with our overarching goals and will deliver rapid, tangible positive outcomes. Currently, the Reserve Fund is focused on two distinct initiatives that promise to quickly enhance access and understanding at Soulton Hall. By supporting these immediate fundraising priorities, you are not only addressing current needs but also laying a vital foundation for the future success of The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation and its enduring commitment to Soulton Hall’s remarkable heritage.
The Reserve Fund provides vital support for immediate priorities, laying the groundwork for these broader, future endeavours.
We warmly invite you to join us in bringing this vision to life and are actively seeking help within the Reserved Fund at the moment for the following two projects:
Castle Site Pocket Park and Access
Aspiration: Education Access & Physical Heritage Conservation
Creating Accessible Heritage and Unlocking the Soulton Castle Site. Our aspiration is to make Soulton’s heritage accessible to everyone, particularly those with mobility needs, is directly addressed by the funds sought for accessible paths and landscaping at the excavated castle site.
This project connects people with the physical remnants of Soulton’s earliest history in an inclusive way.
Our fundraising goal for this crucial project is £10,000, with stretch goals for enhanced delivery.
Click here to support this project.
Archaeologists have unravelled the secrets of the Soulton landscape, revealing remarkable finds. But these things have not been unlocked and made accessible… yet.
Museam Infrastructure
Aspiration: Education Access and Interpretation
To make this rich intellectual heritage accessible and engaging, we urgently need to commission five professionally designed museum information panels. The total cost for these essential interpretive tools is £6,000.
Click here to support this project.
Help us bring Soulton Hall’s fascinating intellectual story to life.
Future aspirations
While the Soulton Hall Reserved Fund is currently focused on the immediate needs pointed to above, such as accessible paths and initial information panels, we also have exciting forthcoming developments in other key areas aligned with the aspirations of The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation.
Progress in Foundation governance, physical heritage conservation beyond the urgent repairs, scholarship, and ecological work is being actively pursued through other channels and will come to fruition as the Foundation grows and its initiatives expand.
More detail
Further information on the Reserved Fund and the plan for the foundation are explained via these links:
