Souton Hall

02/11/2026

A short note regarding Soulton’s history has been published in the 2026 edition of The Brown Book, the annual magazine of Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford.

The piece summarizes ongoing research and public records concerning the site's role as a place of concealment during the Reformation.

State papers now record that Saint Erkenwald is remembered at Soulton in a broad, living way, with clear evidence and welcome consensus regarding the survival of both the saint's relics and the pre-Reformation high altar of Old St Paul's Cathedral.

While significant practical work remains ahead, establishing Soulton’s role as a Reformation repository provides a clear foundation for ongoing research, dialogue, and collaboration.

Primary stakeholders remain aligned in their long-term stewardship of the project.

Read the full note on our blog: https://soultonhall.co.uk/2026/a-new-note-on-soultons-heritage-in-the-oxford-universitys-brown-book/

30/10/2026

🍂 autumn comes to the wood

29/10/2026

Shropshire Star reporting the Jacob Chandler solo show in St James Garlickhythe which is still running until Friday in the heart of the City of London.

Sculptures inspired by Shakespeare’s As You Like It are on display at a historic City of London church, drawing on the artist’s Shropshire roots.

28/10/2026

There is a short article on Soulton and and in the latest edition of which is shared here:

https://soultonhall.co.uk/2026/local-roots-national-reach-soulton-hall-in-the-parish-press/

Thank you Wem Rural Parish Council.

28/10/2026

On October 28, 1561, Sir Rowland Hill died.

Beyond serving as the first Protestant Lord Mayor of London and founding Market Drayton Grammar School, he left behind a extraordinary legacy:

Financial patron of the 1560 Geneva Bible, bringing scripture into everyday English and directly shaping the language Shakespeare used.

Immortalised by Shakespeare as the revered "Old Sir Rowland de Boys" in As You Like It.

A quiet guardian of heritage who protected ancient traditions like the Erkenwald legacy through dangerous times, while embedding codes, geometry, and symbolism into the landscape here at Soulton.

He held a deliberate, hopeful patience across generations for better days—when things hidden could be shared again and fellowship restored.

Read our full reflection on his life, legacy, and ongoing presence at Soulton Hall on the blog:

https://soultonhall.co.uk/2026/remembering-old-sir-rowland-hill-tudor-titan-geneva-bible-publisher-and-inspiration-for-shakespeare/

28/10/2026

Some fantastic coverage of Jacob Chandler's Solo Show in London at the magnificent Wren's Lantern church at St James Garlickhythe and in Shropshire press coming in..

* https://www.londondaily.news/city-church-hosts-exhibition-by-invictus-spirit-sculptor/

* https://www.whitchurchherald.co.uk/news/26673639.artist-opens-london-exhibit-ties-whitchurch/

Lovely to see the old affections between City of London and Shropshire renewing via art 500 years on from a very intense part of this story!

Discover Jacob Chandler’s contemporary sculpture and prints at St James Garlickhythe in London, featuring disability advocacy and Commonwealth Games-inspired art.

27/10/2026

🎭 Shakespeare’s Shakespearean Heritage Comes Full Circle in London

In As You Like It, courtly life travels out into the rustic sanctuary of the Forest of Arden.

Now, framed by the monumental stone architecture of Wren’s Lantern, that same Shropshire-Arden heritage completes its journey back to the City.

We are thrilled to share that a major new solo exhibition by prominent national Jacob Chandler Artist and Sculptor has opened inside St James Garlickhythe—affectionately known as "Wren’s Lantern"—bringing a deep piece of North Shropshire’s identity into the heart of the capital!

With deep ties to Soulton, the show highlights how our local heritage helped shape one of literature's most famous works.

Highlights of the Exhibition:

The Sculptures: Features Chandler's striking new figures of Pheobe and Silvius, exploring multidimensional geometry and the allegorical themes of transition in As You Like It.

The Soulton Connection: The real-world inspiration behind the play's hero and themes stems right here from Soulton—home to Old Sir Rowland Hill (the Tudor statesman who inspired Old Sir Rowland de Boys) and Thomas Lodge Jr, who furnished the source text for the play.

London Architecture: Just down the road from the exhibition venue, St Mary Abchurch stands as an architectural model of Soulton Hall, sharing its exact 55ft brick cube design and historic dancing pavement—built to hold this shared heritage together.

This landmark exhibition builds on momentum across the county following a unanimous Shropshire Council resolution celebrating As You Like It as a vital piece of Shropshire’s cultural legacy.

📅 Visiting: The exhibition runs at St James Garlickhythe in the City of London until this Friday. If you are in London this week, don't miss the chance to see it in person!

24/10/2026

“HANS HITPRICKE” (and Other Phantom Printers)

https://soultonhall.co.uk/2026/hans-hitpricke-and-other-phantom-printers/

24/10/2026

A look back at the incredible performance by last September in Soulton Court's Moot Hall. This Tudor great hall hosted drama a generation before and was known to Thomas Lodge Jr.! 🎭