Wem's Soulton Hall to feature in Rest Is History podcast special
Tudor country seat in North Shropshire is to feature in a special episode of the popular Rest Is History podcast, revealing extraordinary connections to a 7th-century Saxon saint, Shakespeare and hidden treasures.
Soulton Hall, near Wem, is set to take centre stage in a major broadcast when the popular Rest Is History podcast airs a special series finale episode this month.
Hosted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, the episode was recorded recently and will hit podcast feeds within the next fortnight.
The broadcast will reveal what researchers describe as a once-in-a-1,400-year historical breakthrough at the estate. Architectural analysis by experts James Wenn and James Syrett of Byrga Geniht found that the 1556 layout of Soulton Hall was designed using precise geometric codes that directly match the lost shrine of Saint Erkenwald—a 7th-century Saxon bishop and prince of East Anglia.
When royal authorities ordered the destruction of Erkenwald's shrine during 16th-century religious upheaval, the estate's owner, "Old" Sir Rowland Hill, a former Lord Mayor of London, orchestrated a secret campaign to preserve the saint's heritage.
Active archaeological work is currently taking place in the central courtyard at Soulton Hall, where ground signals suggest materials connected to the Saxon bishop were covertly reinterred.
The discoveries extend beyond Saxon history. Research shows that when Sir Rowland was tasked with dismantling the High Altar of Old St Paul's Cathedral in 1550, he saved the central altar stone and smuggled it to Shropshire, where it remains preserved in a basement room at the hall.
The estate also holds significance in English literary history. Soulton Hall served as the real-world backdrop for William Shakespeare's As You Like It, with the character "Old Sir Rowland de Boys" created as a direct tribute to Hill's legacy as a protector and provider of sanctuary.
The significance of the discoveries has been formally recognised by Shropshire Council through a unanimous resolution, and included in the parliamentary record via an Early Day Motion tabled by North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan.
Lead researcher James D. Wenn described Soulton as "a rich and fascinating bridge between sixteenth-century worlds," adding that few properties anywhere contain "as many surprises per square foot."
Members of the public can arrange visits through pre-booked heritage tours at the estate.