Skip to main content

Support Soulton Hall Now: The Reserve Fund

Thank you for your interest in supporting the heritage of Soulton Hall. Prior to the full establishment of The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation, your generous contributions to this dedicated reserve fund will have an immediate impact on our ongoing civic goals.

Soulton Hall viewed from a filed of cows - we we a cube house of red brick with four chinmeys.

Soulton Hall, birthplace of the Elizabethan Golden Age

These funds directly support the preservation and enhancement of this significant estate.

Current Fundraising Priorities

Here are some of the key areas we are currently seeking support for through the Soulton Hall Reserve Fund:

Pocket Park and access to the Soulton Castle site

There is a profound and growing desire for people to connect with the Soulton Hall landscape and the legacy of Sir Rowland Hill. Notably, North Shropshire currently lacks free access to areas of public green space with significant heritage value. Having now fully excavated the Soulton Castle site, we possess a wealth of knowledge about this early and fascinating phase of Soulton’s story, documented in archaeological literature.

Archaeologists and the public are looking at a trench in a mound, explaining a lost castle feature.

Archaeologists have unravelled the secrets of the Soulton landscape, revealing remarkable finds.  But we cannot share this learning and unlock free public access with out help.

However, this important site is currently not unlocked for local people and visitors from beyond to enjoy and understand.

We wish to change this, and we are particularly committed to making this accessible to people with access needs.

Funds are therefore urgently sought for the creation of accessible paths, appropriate landscaping to integrate the site, and the implementation of accessibility measures specifically designed for wheelchairs and mobility vehicles.

Our fundraising goal for this crucial project is £10,000, with stretch goals for enhanced delivery.

Impact:

Provides free access to a significant heritage site for the local community and visitors, addresses the lack of accessible green spaces in North Shropshire, and ensures inclusivity for individuals with mobility challenges.

Help us unlock the history of Soulton Castle for everyone.

Donate to the Accessible Heritage Project here.

Your contribution to the Soulton Hall Reserve Fund, no matter the size, will make a tangible difference in preserving this important heritage site and supporting our ongoing civic goals here in North Shropshire. Thank you for your generosity.

Museum Information Panels

Sir Rowland Hill, the visionary builder of Soulton Hall, constructed a highly conceptual house deeply rooted in Renaissance ideals. His design drew from mathematics, 16th-century humanism, and various other significant touchpoints of Western culture. Currently, we lack professional museum-quality information panels to effectively explain these intricate matters to our growing number of heritage access visitors and educational groups. The Ashton family has already privately supported the extensive research to unlock these fascinating aspects of Soulton’s design, representing a substantial investment of over £100,000.

This image depicts a scholarly reconstruction of Soulton Hall, highlighting its architectural elements inspired by the ancient theater of Epidaurus. The yellow lines trace these features, revealing the Rowland Hill's homage to the renowned Greek structure.

This image depicts a scholarly reconstruction of Soulton Hall.  Unlocking Soulton’s contribution to the life of the mind will be greatly enhanced with Museum Information Panels

To make this rich intellectual heritage accessible and engaging, we urgently need to commission five professionally designed museum information panels. The total cost for these essential interpretive tools is £6,000.

Impact:

  • Enhances visitor understanding: Provides clear and engaging explanations of Soulton Hall’s unique Renaissance architectural code and its intellectual underpinnings.
  • Enriches the educational experience: Offers valuable learning resources for school groups and students of history, architecture, and cultural studies.
  • Elevates the heritage offering: Presents a more complete and nuanced understanding of Soulton Hall’s significance as a cultural landmark.
  • Increases engagement: Makes the intellectual concepts behind the house more accessible and captivating for a wider audience.
  • Complements prior research: Effectively disseminates the valuable findings of the Ashton family’s significant investment in unlocking this knowledge.

Help us bring Soulton Hall’s fascinating intellectual story to life. Contribute to the Museum Information Panels project here

********

Your contribution to the Soulton Hall Reserve Fund, no matter the size, will make a tangible difference in preserving this important heritage site and supporting our ongoing civic goals. Thank you for your generosity.

Learn more about  The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation here.

Please contact us explore how you can help us with this important work.