Archaeologists closer to breaking 'code' of Shropshire hall which folklore links to Shakespeare

With many of the findings still to be analysed and made the subject of academic papers subject to peer review, Mr Ashton says he is "thrilled at what is being revealed".

Fifteenth century owner Sir Rowland Hill of Soulton was an extremely well connected and influential man.

And, according to unconfirmed Shropshire folklore, he could have been the inspiration for the character Rowland de Bois - Old Sir Rowland in the Shakespeare play As You Like It.

Less contentious is Sir Rowland's connection to the 1560 Geneva Bible, which was the first mechanically printed version of the Christian holy book. The Bible was used by William Shakespeare, Oliver Cromwell, John Knox, John Donne, and others. It was also one of the Bibles taken to America on the Mayflower.

Mr Ashton said the whole of Soulton Hall is built in "code" and he is looking forward to being able to decipher at least some of its meaning.

"This year the dig looked at the 16th century garden phase from the 1550s," he said. "The dig found an early lawn alignment with the rising sun on Easter morning.

"Rowland Hill co-ordinated the Geneva Bible and it looks like the scholars doing that were hidden at Soulton Hall. The house is built in a kind of code."

The Geneva Bible was associated with Protestantism and at the time it was considered heresy and treason to be linked with it. It was later granted permission by Queen Elizabeth I.

"The landscaped gardens and coded building are talking of philosophy and scripture in a way that was unheard of," said Mr Ashton.

He says Sir Rowland, who became the Lord Mayor of London, had such an amazing life that "being attacked by pirates isn't even in the top 20".

"He lost £30 million in debts in today's money," he added.

Mr Ashton said he is working on an academic paper concerning the informal local belief that his distant but not direct family ancestor could be the inspiration behind a Shakespeare character. Such confirmation, if it came, could have a huge economic impact.

He said: "There was early theatre in Shropshire before Shakespeare. It was something for the elite and was not working in the form it would be recognised now until the 17th century."

Mr Ashton believes there may be clues in the way the gardens were configured and in the fascinating building.

"It is constructed doing lots of things," he said. "The site has a 1,000-year history and is unbelievably important."

He added that there is "still archaeology to be done here and we are working that out" in relation not only to the hall and its grounds but in relation to other parts of north Shropshire and the part it played in the nation's history.