Soulton Hall in Shropshire features a quotation from William Shakespeare’s As You Like It etched into the glass door leading to the staircase hall. The inscription reads:
Shakespeare etched on a door at Soulton Hall – “Peace, ho! I bar confusion.
’Tis I must make conclusion
Of these most strange events.
Here’s eight that must take hands
….
If truth holds true contents.”
This modern addition serves as a tribute to Soulton Hall’s links to the source material of As You Like It (Thomas Lodge Jr.’s Rosalynde, Euphues’ Golden Legacy). The inscription also functions as a welcoming feature for visitors.
Shakespeare etched on a door at Soulton Hall – “Peace, ho! I bar confusion.
’Tis I must make conclusion
Of these most strange events.
Here’s eight that must take hands
….
If truth holds true contents.”
The excerpt is spoken by Hymen in the play, preceding a command for the assembled characters to join hands for a dance of harmony, signifying the resolution of the plot’s complexities.
Visible through the glass is a “dancing pavement” pattern in guiding on the wall of the staircase hall. This visual relates to Hymen’s instruction for the characters to “take hands,” creating a visual and thematic connection.
The Shakespearean inscription and the adjacent “dancing pavement” motif together act as a contemporary acknowledgement of the property’s literary connections and offers a unique welcome to those entering Soulton Hall.
