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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Soulton Hall
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260503T140000
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UID:10000178-1777816800-1777824000@soultonhall.co.uk
SUMMARY:The Vault is Open: Access Heritage Tours
DESCRIPTION:For centuries\, Soulton Hall has been more than a home; it is a coded message in stone\, designed by Sir Rowland Hill during a time of great peril. \nOur walls hold defiance\, sanctuary\, and the dawn of the Elizabethan Golden Age. \nJoin us for an intimate tour\, typically led by a member of the family. Should they be unavailable\, the tour will be led by one of our expert historians\, guaranteeing an authoritative and insightful experience. \nYou will step beyond the usual view to discover the building’s deeply layered\, sometimes secret\, heritage. These tours are your chance to unravel the truth\, stand in the footsteps of history\, and explore a tangible connection to the Tudor and Elizabethan periods. \nShakespeare\, Sanctuary\, and the Golden Age\nSoulton Hall is a tangible connection to the Tudor Period and the Elizabethan Golden Age. Sir Rowland\, a pivotal figure on the Privy Councils of four monarchs\, defied oppression by transforming his home into a clandestine base for work on publishing the Geneva Bible and the settelement it was delivered in to. \nThe house’s unique history and artistic network inspired William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy\, As You Like It. This connection is fndamental\, linking Soulton to the Lodge family and Thomas Lodge\, the writer of the source book\, Rosalynde (1590) and the dance of harmony that concludes the play. \nWhat You Will Explore on the Tour \nYour journey into the past includes unique access to: \n\nThe Concealed Chapel fivate family Prayer Room and Priest’s Hide\nThe ‘As You Like It‘ Dancing Pavement and the Rowland Hill Furniture\nA deeper sense of the Renaissance Codes woven into the structure\nThe Chess Court and Wren Steps\n\nThe tour concludes with a traditional cup of tea and a slice of cake\, offering time to reflect on the secrets you have unveiled. \nBooking Details and Availability\nJoin a popular Historic Houses Association Heritage Access House Tour. These special tours typically take place on select Sundays throughout the year. \nBooking is essential as spaces are strictly limited to preserve the intimate nature of the exploration. \nFollow the link below to view dates and book via the HHA site: \nhttps://www.historichouses.org/house/soulton-hall/visit/
URL:https://soultonhall.co.uk/event/hha-heritage-access-tour-3-2/2026-05-03/
LOCATION:Soulton Hall\, Soulton Hall\, Soulton Road\, Wem\, SHREWSBURY\, SY4 5RS\, UNITED KINGDOM\, Shrewsbury\, Shropshire\, SY4 5RS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Arts and Culture,Heritage Tour
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UID:10000198-1780128000-1780160400@soultonhall.co.uk
SUMMARY:Lecture: Shakespearean History and Local Heritage at Weston under Redcastle
DESCRIPTION:There is a remarkable cultural phenomenon happening across Shropshire and its borders this summer. \nWilliam Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy\, As You Like It\, is being performed an exceptional number of times by different theatrical troupes. \nThe Dance in AS You Like It at Soulton Hall \nWhat is driving this sudden explosion of regional interest in this specific play? \nTo answer that question\, Tim Ashton will deliver a vital lecture on Saturday 11th July 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Weston under Redcastle Village Hall. \n[Ticket Link]\nAll funds raised will assist Weston Church with its local fundraising\, care\, and community presence. \nTheatre in Epidaurus Court\, Soulton Hall \nEvent Details & Tickets\n\n\nWhen: Saturday\, 11th July 2026 | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM \n\n\nWhere: Weston under Redcastle Village Hall\, Weston\, Shropshire \n\n\nAdmission: £5.00 (Includes a complimentary glass of wine and nibbles) \n\n\n\nBooking Information: Tickets are priced at a flat £5.00 with all booking fees absorbed by the event\, ensuring every penny goes directly to the cause. Space is limited inside the main hall to approximately 60 seats. \n[ Link to Eventbrite Ticket Page Here ] \n\nWhat to Expect\nThe momentum behind this summer’s theatrical explosion reached a historic milestone earlier this year: on May 8th\, 2026\, the Shropshire Youth Theatre (SYT) staged a landmark production of As You Like It right here at Soulton Hall. \nFollowing years of careful research and preparation\, this presentation was a momentous event: the first-ever recorded performance of the play on the actual ground that breathes life into its history. \nThe Signatures of Old Sir Rowland Hill and Sir Thomas Lodge on the 1500s Soulton Papers \nThe core of this upcoming lecture reveals a profound historical reality: the parish we inhabit—and the specific geographical corridor running from Soulton Hall to Hawkstone—is the true birthplace of As You Like It. \nWhile traditional narratives confine the “Forest of Arden” to a small pocket of Warwickshire\, archival and architectural evidence tells a much deeper story. \nThe famous Soulton Dancing Pavement – linked to the dance of harmony for 8 that closes the play \nThe Real History: Where Land and Poetry Meet\nAttendees will discover how specific natural and historical features visible across the parish today are written directly into the dialogue of the play: \n\n\nThe Source Material: The primary source text for the play\, Rosalynde\, was written by Thomas Lodge. A crucial archival document known as the Soulton Rental bears the side-by-side signatures of Sir Roland Hill and Thomas Lodge’s father\, proving that the author spent his youth interacting with this exact Shropshire landscape—which he explicitly described as a “fair valley\, compassed with mountains.” \n\n\nThe Family Connection: Sir Roland Hill (c. 1492–1561)\, the Tudor polymath who held the Soulton and Hawkstone estates\, was a relative by marriage to Mary Arden\, Shakespeare’s mother. \n\n\nThe Fictional Tribute: The moral anchor of the play is a deceased patriarch named Old Sir Rowland. This character is a direct\, affectionate tribute to Sir Roland Hill\, honoring his legacy as a protector of culture\, literature\, and social harmony during the dangerous years of the Tudor era. \n\n\nThe Terrain & Dialogue: Shakespeare marks the local topography by describing an oak whose “antique root peeps out upon the brook that brawls along this wood.” The text carefully places Rosalind’s cottage as being “West of this place\, down in the neighbour bottom.” \n\n\nThe Pavement Patterns: The ancient\, geometric paving stones at Soulton Hall record a “Dance of Eight” that mirrors the climax of the comedy\, where characters celebrate a return to harmony: “Here’s eight that must take hands / To join in [wedding] bands.” \n\n\n2026 Summer Performance Calendar\nThe exceptional volume of regional performances this summer serves as a widespread celebration of this local heritage. \nThe landscape that inspired the play is transforming into the very stage where it comes alive. \n\n\n\nVenue\nDate & Time\nPerformance Details\n\n\n\n\n\nHawkstone Park Follies \n \n(SY4 5JY) \n\n\nThursday\, 16th July 2026 \n \n7:00 PM \n\nPerformed by The HandleBards. A bicycle-powered\, outdoor production set against the dramatic cliffs and grottoes that mimic the “abandoned caves” of the text.\n\n\n\nDudmaston Hall \n \n(WV15 6QN) \n\n\nThursday\, 6th August 2026 \n \n7:00 PM \n\nAn outdoor evening performance in the beautiful grounds of the National Trust estate.\n\n\n\nMoseley Old Hall \n \n(WV10 7HY) \n\n\nSaturday\, 15th August 2026 \n \n7:00 PM \n\nLocated just over the county border\, perfect for a weekend open-air theatre outing.\n\n\n\nSoulton Hall \n \n(SY4 5FB) \n\n\nSunday\, 30th August 2026 \n \n3:00 PM – 5:00 PM \n\nPerformed by The Whole Pack Theatre in the Epidaurus Court\, offering a direct homecoming where the characters face the actual Soulton Wood on the horizon.\n\n\n\nSupporting Weston-Under-Redcastle Church\nFirst and foremost\, this upcoming lecture is a charitable endeavor. Both the church and village hall are looking for events to bridge vital fundraising gaps this year. By gathering at the Village Hall\, attendees will not only uncover the hidden history linking William Shakespeare to our immediate landscape\, but will also provide meaningful support to the ongoing preservation\, fabric care\, and local community presence provided by the parish church.
URL:https://soultonhall.co.uk/event/lecture-shakespearean-history-and-local-heritage-at-weston-under-redcastle/
CATEGORIES:Arts and Culture,Civic Event
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