Reflections on Soulton’s history
I like this place.
And willingly could waste my time in it.– William Shakespeare, As You Like It,
Act II, Scene IV. The Forest of Arden.
Soulton Hall, a striking country house in Shropshire, boasts a history richer than a simple timeline.
Here, we’ll explore the design philosophies behind the buildings and some key events and people that shaped this place over the past millennium.
The Visionary Sir Rowland Hill
Soulton Hall is the brainchild of Sir Rowland Hill, a man of many identities who during the Tudor era. He was a statesman, philanthropist, merchant, and scholar-publisher.
Hill’s extraordinary mind is deeply embedded in the fabric of Soulton Hall, and he’s believed to be the inspiration for Shakespeare’s “Old Sir Rowland” in As You Like It.
Beyond the connection to that adored play, Hill’s remarkable life included:
- preserving cultural treasures;
- coordinating the Geneva Bible, a risky act during Mary I’s reign (a hidden priest’s hide in the studiolo reflects the dangers);
- Serving as a judge in treason trials;
- Influencing English trade with Germany;
- Holding a significant portion of the national debt and controlling foreign exchange;
- surviving a pirate attack;
- pioneering English drama.
A Building Full of Meaning
Hill’s Renaissance house defies easy categorization.
It’s part theater, part temple, part university, part hospital, and even a potential national political and philosophical backup resource.
Originally wider Merchant palace complex, Soulton has muted and adapted over 100s of years. Importantly, the current hall (‘corps de logis‘ or elite accomodation block) survies reflects the vision Hill and his associates meticulously crafted.
The Code of Soulton Hall
The building itself employs a self-admitting code, linking dance, philosophy, music, and both classical and Christian traditions.
These ideas which of Hill and his friends were engaging with influenced constructions across the Atlantic, with echoes seen in buildings thousands of miles away, and, interestingly, Benjamin Franklin, who knew the family at Soulton, designed the first Great Seal of the United States based on Hill’s Geneva Bible frontispiece.
A Shakespearian Connection
Documents link both Hill and Soulton to Thomas Lodge, author of Rosalynde (1590), the source material for Shakespare’s As You Like It. Shakespeare’s play itself reads mysteries, with lines like:
Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile,
Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious court?– William Shakespeare, As You Like It,
Act II, Scene I. The Forest of Arden.
A Richer History Awaits
Soulton Hall’s story extends far beyond Sir Rowland Hill. The land was a prestigious manor owned by a brother of the last Earl of Mercia during King Cnut’s reign.
Yvo de Soulton, one of Shropshire’s first MPs, even built a “lost castle” here, recently rediscovered by archaeologists.
Later additions include an early model farm (1700s) and a 1600s courthouse (incorporating timbers from a lost medieval hall) where a descendant of Hill’s stopped an abusive witch trial.
Recent years have seen the construction of a Long Barrow, reviving a practice absent for over 5,000 years.
Theatre has also returned to the landscape through collaborations with the National Youth Theatre and other cultural institutions.
Other surviving and recorded buildings, including the fascinating dancing pavement south of the hall, are built using these same the same self-admitting codes. These codes consider into profound questions like the responsibilities of Plato’s guardians.
Ready to Decipher the Code?
If Soulton Hall’s history piques your curiosity, look out for James D. Wenn’s book Stones of the Magi for a deeper exploration and visit the BYRGA GENIHT website.
During your visit, if the mood takes you, you can explore the monuments in St Bartholomew’s Church, Tong, that some link to Shakespeare, and discover the Tudor story of Hodnet village.
Archaeological excavation reports by Dig Ventures are available online, with opportunities to participate in supervised digs.
Soulton Hall offers far more than a glimpse into the past; it’s an invitation to crack the hidden meanings woven into its structure.
********
Please note:
- The content above includes references to copyrighted material owned by the Ashton family of Soulton and their consultants BYRGA GENIHT. Please cite the source appropriately if you intend to use this information.
