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Supporting and Sharing Soulton Hall’s Heritage:

Introducing the Foundation and Reserved Fund

 

Soulton Hall, with unrivalled history and cultural resonance, and possessing remarkable natural beauty holds a profound significance within our shared heritage.

Recognizing this intrinsic value, which inspired Shakespeare and forged the Tudor Renaissance, the Ashton family has always been driven by a deep aspiration to ensure its enduring preservation and accessibility for generations yet to come.

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

It is within this  hope and commitment that we are taking the first steps towards the establishment of The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation.

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Prior to the formal establishment of The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation, we are pleased to announce the creation of a dedicated Reserved Fund intended for the receipt of philanthropic support.

This fund will enable us to further the civic goals that are already actively promoted through Soulton Hall’s existing commercial activities.

We warmly welcome any contributions to this reserve fund, as they will directly contribute to our ongoing efforts in heritage preservation, ecological conservation, and community engagement, laying a vital foundation for the future work of the forthcoming Sir Rowland Hill Foundation.

Please click through to this fund’s dedicated page to learn what we are currently seeking to fund, and what partnership opportunities exist:

The Reserved Fund

A woodland in spring there are bluebells and wood anemone, a young fern, dappled light

Soulton Wood, inspiration for Thomas Lodge’s Rosalynde and for Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT

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The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation is envisioned as a dedicated vehicle to champion the substantial heritage importance of the Soulton Estate through a carefully considered range of vital initiatives.

Inspired by the innovative spirit and commitment to public service exemplified by Sir Rowland Hill, our aspiration is for the foundation to serve as a catalyst for crucial work in conservation, education, and research.

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.

Our aspiration is to build a foundation that will effectively support Soulton Hall across several key areas.

  • Firstly, we aspire to establish a resilient and well-structured foundation, and to that end, we recognize the need for expert guidance in its initial stages. Therefore, a key aspiration is to secure the necessary funds to cover the essential professional services required for charity founding and the development of sound governance frameworks. This foundational investment is crucial to realizing our aspiration for the long-term viability and impactful operation of the Sir Rowland Hill Foundation.
  • Secondly, we hold a strong aspiration to safeguard the physical fabric of Soulton Hall, encompassing its historic buildings and expansive grounds, which demands continuous care and sensitive restoration. This includes aspiring to undertake essential repairs to the structures, meticulously preserving invaluable architectural features, and diligently maintaining the estate to secure its tangible heritage for the future.
  • Thirdly, we deeply aspire to protect the natural environment that embraces Soulton Hall, understanding it as an inseparable component of its overall heritage. Consequently, our aspiration extends to the ecological conservation of the estate. This involves implementing sustainable land management practices, undertaking vital habitat restoration projects, and actively protecting the diverse local flora and fauna that call Soulton Hall home.
  • Fourthly, it is our sincere aspiration that Soulton Hall’s wealth of knowledge and compelling stories will be shared widely. To this end, we aspire to develop engaging educational programs, create accessible resources for all, and offer insightful interpretation for visitors of every age, thereby fostering a deeper understanding and a greater appreciation of its rich heritage.
  • Finally, we hold the aspiration to fully comprehend and celebrate the multifaceted history and ecological significance of Soulton Hall through ongoing scholarly research. Our aim is to actively support in-depth investigations into the estate’s past, its intricate natural environment, and its potential to serve as a place of learning and discovery for the future.

The Ashton Family shares a profound aspiration for the future of Soulton Hall and warmly invites you to become a partner in this significant endeavour.

Under a night sky there is an amphitheatre, there are powerful lights, a loan figure walks into the scene

The National Youth Theatre preforming at Soulton, birthplace of Shakespeare’s As You Like It,  benefiting from the sanctuary of Old Sir Rowland’s estate during the pandemic.  Credit: Helen Murray

Your generous contribution to The Sir Rowland Hill Foundation will be instrumental in realizing our aspirations and ensuring that the remarkable legacy of Soulton Hall not only endures but continues to flourish for generations to come. We encourage you to consider supporting our efforts and to learn more about the vital work we aspire to undertake.

Please contact us to explore ways in which you would like to join us in the vital work: thank you for your kind consideration and your invaluable support.  There are  various opportunities for public acknowledgement of greatly valued support.