Soulton Hall
 North East Face of Soulton Hall | |
| Type | Country House |
|---|---|
| Main feature | Grade II* listed House |
| Other features | Farm and Woodland |
| Country | England |
| Region | Shropshire |
| Address | Wem, Shrewsbury, Shropshire |
| Postcode | SY4 5RS |
| Website | Soulton Hall |
Soulton Hall is a country house in Shropshire, England, located two miles east of the town of Wem, on the B5065.
History
Within the manor are signs of Bronze Age habitation.
The manor of Soulton existed at the time of the Domesday Book (see: PASE Domesday) and is recorded as “Svltune”; the Domesday Book goes on to record the pre-Conquest lord of the manor as Brihtric, the brother of Eadric Streona, who was the Ealdorman of Mercia. Both Brihtric and Eadric were slain by King Cnut on Christmas Day, 1017 after the latter has assisted Cnut in taking the throne.
A grant of the manor in 1399 indicates that some of the ancient marker posts marking the boundary with Wales were part of the boundary of the manor.
The building on the present site was pre-dated by a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, this was located approximately 300 meters to the north-east of the present building. That Soulton was a subordinate manor to Shrewsbury Castle, together with the fact at the time Soulton was on the Welsh border, tends to confirm its status as part of Roger de Montgomerie's delineation of the Welsh border, and not one of the later motte and bailey in the Anarchy during the reign of King Stephen.
This castle which became a fortified manor house. Its location is marked by a mound which can still be seen. This building is believed to have burnt down at some point in the late 14th century. It is supposed that when the manor house came to be re-built, re-using some of the original materials, the new site was chosen because it was dryer and more amenable.
Present buildings
What can be seen externally of the present hall is constructed of brick with Grinshill stone dressings. This exterior of the building was constructed in approximately 1550 by Sir Rowland Hill(MP), who was the first Protestant Lord Mayor of London in 1549, and, as Sheriff of London, was involved in the case which established Parliamentary Privilege.
In 1668 a semi-circular pediment bearing the marital coat of arms of Thomas Hill, a descendant of Sir Rowland's and a friend of Samuel Pepys, was added above the front door. There are said to be masonic influences in this semi-circular pediment, and the hall's cubic appearance may be an early re-interpretation of Vitruvian ideas.
Within the building are traces of an older Tudor or medieval building of timber frame construction, thought to date from the late 15th century. Examples of simple pargeting on this earlier building can be seen within the building.
Farm and Grounds
Within the grounds of the hall are thought to be the remains of extensive medieval gardens. There are also some 18th century farm buildings, of which a range of buildings now known as Soulton Court, which has a plaque dated 1783 relating to later work, incorporates a manorial moot hall of unknown date prior to the mid-1600s.
There is a 500 acre farm, including Soulton Wood.
Gallery
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Carved Tudor Stone Work
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1668 Marital coat of arms above front door
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Soulton Court, including Moot Hall
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Soulton Mound, site of the hall from 1086, possibly earlier, until late 1300s
Historic Designations
Soulton Hall is a Grade II* listed building, along with its walled gardens, pillared forecourt and carved stone work. Soulton Bridge, crossing Soulton Brook is a Grade I listed structure, built in 1801 by Thomas Telford. It is now a hotel and farm. It is still owned by descendants of Sir Rowland Hill.
Sustainability
The hall and annex buildings are heated by 62kWp Ground source heat pump, and the home site has a 50kWp solar PV array. These were installed in the 24 months from December 2011.
External links
- History Page of Official Soulton Hall Website Retrieved 29 November 2013
- English Heritage Listing
Coordinates: 52°52′04″N 2°40′44″W / 52.8678°N 2.679°W