At Soulton Hall, we are proud custodians of some truly extraordinary architectural features.
Take our 1550s window mullions, for example. Their unique design is almost unparalleled, with only Tresham’s unfinished Lyveden New Bield showing a similar geometrical form – those distinctive tilted square mullions meeting in a block intersection.
Window in Soulton Hall with the block intersections (it has a quotation from A Midsummer Night’s Dream showing next to it)
These are not just decorative elements; they are a deliberate statement by Old Sir Rowland Hill. He designed them to express his fascination with the rhombic dodecahedron and the profound social allegory it represented for figures like Plato, whom, we think, considered it as the “fifth element” mentioned in his Timaeus.
We often refer to these as “sermons in stones,” a self-conscious nod to William Shakespeare’s As You Like It – a play with deep connections to Soulton Hall. This play also explores this very idea of recovering harmony, culminating in a special dance recorded here at the Hall.
‘Old’ Sir Rowland, Shakespearian hero.
Sometimes, these ideas are best understood with physical models.
Understanding this, Old Sir Rowland built Soulton Hall as a kind of inhabitable lecture prop.
Concept Designs for In Hoc Signo contemporary work, with the Soulton window Mullions seen in the reflection
That is why we are absolutely thrilled to announce the display of new concept designs for an exceptional work of art that directly explores these very ideas. These designs are now beautifully hung in Old Sir Rowland Hill’s historic Studiolo, right beside the windows that have given some of the confidenc efor the new work.
One of the unique block intersections
This compelling artwork, titled In Hoc Signo, is the collaborative creation of talented Artist and Sculptor Jacob Chandler and Byrga Geniht. The collaborators believe this mathematical allegory embodies the famous vision of Emperor Constantine.
In Hoc Signo is set to premiere at the Shrewsbury Arts Trail 2025 (and will later tour to The Minories), we invite you to goand see it. Please also know that when you visit Soulton Hall now, you can experience the benefit of seeing the concept designs right next to the very clever windows which demonstrate that what the new work entertains, Old Sir Rowland also wanted to set before people and seek inspiration from.
In Hoc Sign on show in the Shrewsbury Arts Trail 2025
It is a wonderful testament to how art can bridge the past and present, sparking new ideas and inviting you to look at our history in a fresh, dynamic way. Come and discover these layers of meaning for yourself!
Design concepts for In Hoc Signo in Old Sir Rowland’s Studiolo
