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The Soulton Hall Blog

Shropshire Council to Debate Soulton Hall’s Literary Legacy

By 13 July 2026July 15th, 2026No Comments

We warmly welcome the news that a formal motion has been tabled for debate at the upcoming Shropshire Council meeting this Thursday.

The motion—proposed by Councillor Alan Holford and supported by Councillors Bernie Bentick, Neil Bentley, Gary Groves, Ben Jephcott, Sarah Marston, and Chris Naylor—invites the Council to recognise the deep historical and literary connections between North Shropshire and William Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

Here is the motion as it has been tabled for the meeting:

Motion received from Councillor Alan Holford and supported by Councillors Bernie Bentick, Neil Bentley, Gary Groves, Ben Jephcott, Sarah Marston and Chris Naylor

This Council:

  1. Celebrates the homecoming performance of William Shakespear’s ‘As You Like It’ by the Shropshire Youth Theatre, which took place at Soulton Hall on 8 May 2026.

  2. Recognises the deep historical and literary importance of this production, which returns the play to the specific North Shropshire landscape that influenced its creation.

  3. Observes that Soulton Hall was the childhood home of Thomas Lodge, whose work Rosalynde served as the primary source for the play; and was the estate of Sir Rowland Hill, the individual who inspired the character of Old Sir Rowland.

  4. Acknowledges the significant cultural heritage of the site, including the ancestral connections between the Hill family and Mary Arden, the mother of William Shakespeare.

  5. Applauds Soulton Hall for its continued dedication to the arts, specifically its support of youth performance groups and its achievement in staging a substantial portion of the Shakespearean canon within the county.

  6. Supports the ongoing collaboration between charitable organisations and the private sector as a powerful method for driving civic renewal and economic vitality in rural areas.

  7. Resolves to promote and celebrate the unique international literary legacy of Shropshire, ensuring that the contributions of our local heritage continue to inspire future generations of residents and visitors.

The Heritage Up for Discussion

The proposal before the Council highlights how our local landscape directly influenced one of the greatest comedies in the English language. If supported, the motion would formally acknowledge:

  • Thomas Lodge’s Legacy: Soulton Hall was the childhood home of Thomas Lodge, whose 1590 prose romance Rosalynde served as the primary source material for As You Like It.

  • The Inspiration for “Sir Rowland”: The character of “Old Sir Rowland” in the play is widely believed to be inspired by Sir Rowland Hill, the Tudor builder of Soulton Hall.

  • Family Connections: The ancestral ties linking the Hill family to Mary Arden, the mother of William Shakespeare.

The motion also seeks to celebrate the homecoming performance of As You Like It staged here on 8 May 2026 by the brilliant Shropshire Youth Theatre, pointing to it as an example of how the private sector and charitable organisations can collaborate to boost cultural life in rural areas.

Looking Ahead to Thursday

It is wonderful to see the history of our home and the efforts of our local young performers brought before the Council for consideration. We look forward to the discussion.

We are incredibly grateful to the councillors who have brought this forward, and to everyone in our community who continues to champion the unique heritage of North Shropshire.

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This has received press coverage here and here.