October 28 always marks a moment of deep historical reflection at Soulton Hall.
On this day in 1561, “Old” Sir Rowland Hill died.
‘Old Sir Rowland’
A brilliant merchant, transformational philanthropist, and the first Protestant Lord Mayor of London, his broader legacy touches English literature, religious history, and the ground of Soulton in staggering ways.
A Renaissance Powerhouse and Polymath
Born around 1495 in Shropshire, Sir Rowland Hill rose to become one of the wealthiest merchant adventurers of Tudor England and Master of the Mercers’ Company. Serving as Sheriff and later Lord Mayor of London (1549–1550), he steered civic life through some of the most turbulent decades in British history, maintaining influence across the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.
Old Sir Rowland Hill at Hawkstone
His polymathic mind integrated economic vision with immense civic generosity. He founded Market Drayton Grammar School,, helped to found Shrewsbury School, served as President of Bridewell and Bethlem Hospitals, and funded key infrastructure—building public bridges and causeways across Shropshire and Cheshire to connect rural communities.
Patron of the 1560 Geneva Bible
Sir Rowland Hill was a pivotal financial sponsor and publisher of the 1560 Geneva Bible.
Geneva Bible 1560 edition – a revolutionary project Sir Rowland Hill was involved in – Shakeasprare quotes this consistently
This milestone publication made scripture accessible in clear, everyday English. It became the household Bible of Elizabethan England, deeply shaping the language of poets and playwrights—most notably William Shakespeare—and famously accompanying the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower in 1620.
Guardian of Heritage: Codes and the Erkenwald Legacy
Underpinning his public life was a more discreet, carefully managed effort to safeguard traditional culture during times of severe religious upheaval.
Scholarship highlights how Sir Rowland quietly acted as a protector of ancient English heritage.
St Erkenwald window – St Dominic’s Church – The Shrine of Our Lady
His subtle preservation of memories and traditions linked to Saint Erkenwald—the Anglo-Saxon Bishop of London—demonstrates how he navigated dangerous political transitions to shield irreplaceable elements of local and national identity from destruction.
This vision extended directly into the landscape. At Soulton, his polymathic design embedded subtle codes, geometry, and symbolism into the garden layout and architecture. Looking forward from nearly 500 years ago, across generations, he held a deliberate, hopeful patience for better days when things hidden could be shared again and fellowship restored.
The Hero of As You Like It
Sir Rowland’s influence reaches straight into English theatre. Shakespeare commemorated him directly in As You Like It through the revered patriarch “Old Sir Rowland de Boys”.
Backcloth, AS YOU LIKE IT, 1948 performance
In the play, the noble brothers Orlando, Oliver, and Jaques carry their father’s honoured memory forward. Recent historical scholarship underscores how the setting of the Forest of Arden draws directly upon the humanist ethos, geography, and encoded heritage connected to Sir Rowland’s lands here at Soulton.
A Living Legacy at Soulton Hall
Centuries later, the spirit of Old Sir Rowland Hill remains baked into the landscape, architecture, and values of Soulton Hall. As we reflect on his death on October 28, we honour a figure whose vision, courage, and intellectual patronage left an indelible mark on the world.
Whether you come to Soulton for a unique stay, a heritage tour, or a special event, your participation supports our heritage presentations, access, and ongoing public presentation.
