Shrewsbury Dialogues x Soulton Hall and Old Sir Rowland

Joining the Shrewsbury Dialogues

“If Truth Holds True Contents”: Exploring Hidden Harmonies Known to Shakespeare

Following his appearance on the podcast The Rest Is History, Tim Ashton returns to Shrewsbury School to share extraordinary historical and architectural insights in person. The Shrewsbury Dialogues are a vibrant fixture of public intellectual life. Hosted by Shrewsbury School as part of its active partnership agenda, these free public talks invite the wider community to engage in thought-provoking, interdisciplinary discussions.

Event Details

• Title: “If Truth Holds True Contents”: Exploring Hidden Harmonies Known to Shakespeare

• Speaker: Tim Ashton

• Date: Thursday, 28th January 2027

• Time: 7:30 PM (Talk begins)

• Venue: Shrewsbury School (Exact location on site to be confirmed)

• Admission: Entirely Free (Public booking details to follow)

The Shrewsbury Dialogues are a wonderful fixture of public intellectual life run by Shrewsbury School, designed as part of their active partnership agenda to open doors for the wider community to join in fascinating discussions.

These talks are entirely free, and we are delighted that Soulton Hall will be featured in this upcoming session during the Lent term.

About the Talk

Tim Ashton—born and raised at Soulton Hall, the mysterious manor constructed by his forebare Sir Rowland Hill—recently explored this unique home alongside historian Tom Holland. Holland described Soulton Hall as “one of the most amazing houses you will find anywhere in England” and “something of a Tudor Da Vinci code.”

Sir Rowland Hill—the inspiration for the hero in As You Like It, a prominent Tudor statesman, merchant prince, and pivotal figure in the origin story of Shrewsbury School—was a master of cultural preservation during a turbulent era. Though overlooked for centuries, new research brings his legacy back into the light.

Building upon these findings, Tim will explore how Soulton Hall has been identified as the setting of a Shakespearean play. He will offer a deeper look into what “Shakespeare’s wedding play” represents as a monument to cultural preservation and reveal the true identity of Sir Rowland.

This presentation highlights the architectural decoding and technical analysis undertaken by expert heritage consultants James Wenn and James Syrett of the Byrga Geniht Consultancy. Their work recovers the forgotten geometrical language and Renaissance mathematical frameworks hidden within historic British architecture. The research highlights how Sir Rowland safeguarded historic artifacts during a period of monumental change.

A Continuing Academic Connection

Returning to Shrewsbury School to share these discoveries marks a warm renewal of academic connections originally sparked by Michael Schutzer-Weissman. It celebrates how thoughtful teaching and open inquiry can bear unexpected and extraordinary fruit. After Shrewsbury, Tim studied Law at Oxford before holding a Howarth and Smith Fellowship in Los Angeles. He holds a Master’s degree in soil and agriculture and is currently a Master’s candidate at the Shakespeare Institute. Proudly dyslexic, Tim credits his neurodivergence with helping unlock these architectural insights. He is honoured to work alongside a collaborative, diverse team—echoing the enduring themes of harmony and inclusion found in Shakespeare’s work.

Joining the Discussion

Through the Shrewsbury Dialogues, Shrewsbury School invites local residents, curious minds, and the broader community to explore transformative historical inquiries.

Please keep an eye out for upcoming public booking details to reserve your seat for this free event during the Lent term. We look forward to welcoming you to an engaging evening.