It’s hard to believe it’s been a full year since we first opened our doors for a series of special heritage tours.
The initial trio of dates quickly sold out, and due to popular demand, we are thrilled to announce that these tours have now become a regular offering at Soulton Hall.
A year ago, we invited you to step back in time and explore the incredible history of Soulton Hall, a building with tangible connections to the Tudor period and the Elizabethan Golden Age. Our tours look closely at the story of Sir Rowland Hill, a pivotal figure during the Reformation who served on the Privy Councils of four different monarchs. We share the fascinating tale of how he used Soulton Hall as a clandestine base for the publication of the Geneva Bible, which predates the King James Bible by half a century.
Beyond the political intrigue and defiance of oppression, our tours also explore the arts. We reveal how Sir Rowland, a cousin of William Shakespeare through Mary Arden, helped ignite the creative spark of the world’s most famous playwright. It is widely believed that the idyllic setting and clandestine activities within Soulton Hall inspired Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, As You Like It.
The tour takes you to some of our most historic and intriguing spaces, including the concealed chapel, the priests’ hide, and the ‘As You Like It’ dancing pavement. We’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and demand for these tours over the past year, with every single one selling out.
Thank you to everyone who has joined us and made these tours such a success. We are so proud to share the story of Soulton Hall, a place of unparalleled danger, creativity, and intellectual awakening. We look forward to welcoming many more of you in the year to come!
