On the evenings of 10th and 11th May 1941, the Palace of Westminster sustained significant damage during a sustained aerial bombardment campaign known as the London Blitz. Incendiary devices ignited the roof of Westminster Hall, a building of considerable historical significance. Faced with the critical task of prioritizing their efforts, the fire service determined that it would be impossible to save both the Hall and the House of Commons Chamber. Consequently, a decision was made to concentrate resources on extinguishing the fire at Westminster Hall.
The House of Commons Chamber, unfortunately, succumbed to the flames. Bombs had directly struck the chamber, igniting a fire that rapidly spread to the Members’ Lobby. The ensuing conflagration resulted in the complete collapse of the chamber’s ceiling. By the following morning, the once-grand chamber was reduced to a smoldering shell.
This is where the remarkable story of Soulton intertwines with British history.
House of Commons Chamber
The oaks that stood witness to the timeless world of Shakespeare’s As You Like It – a play brimming with themes of harmony and reconciliation – were selected by John Ashworth & Co. for rebuilding the chamber where the United Kingdom’s democracy is shown to its people.
This serendipitous link offers a powerful reflection. The trees that grew in the idyllic setting that inspired Shakespeare’s profound meditation on peace now stand within the walls where the UK Parliament seeks to serve the common good and forge a path toward national unity.
In essence, the spirit of As You Like It – a play set in the Forest of Arden, a haven of tranquility – finds a new embodiment within the walls of the Commons Chamber, a place where the pursuit of harmony remains a constant endeavor.
Soulton Wood, inspiration for Thomas Lodge’s Rosalynde and therefore for Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT
