AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL dig at a mansion near Wem known to be a place of mystery from medieval and Tudor times has resumed. 

The team from DigVentures, a social enterprise organising archaeological digs, has returned to Soulton Hall for the dig which started on Tuesday, April 30 and will last until Sunday, June 11.

Dig Ventures has been excavating on the site after a lost castle, thought to have been on the site, was discovered last year and Soulton Hall owner, Tim Ashton was pleased to welcome the group.

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He said: "We are very happy to be welcoming Dig Ventures back.

"Work is being undertaken and has discovered exciting artifacts.

"But it also confirms the date of construction as late as 1100 and in operation to the 1400s."

Dig Ventures confirmed it is back in Soulton Hall to carry out excavations and hopes to find out what people were doing in medieval times.

A spokesperson said: "We're back at Soulton Hall

"Can we uncover the story of this mysterious monument?

"What were people doing here in medieval times?

"All very important questions as we head into our first crowdfunded dig of the year."

Tim said Soulton Hall founder Sir Rowland Hill was at the centre of new research by historian James Wenn and his role in the English Reformation.

He said: "It is emerging that Soulton Hall was an important building.

"James Wenn's work has been discovering connections with the coronation ritual and the Geneva Bible translation.

"And he did it in this house."

Tim added: "The research is looking at the 1500s and the history of the current building.

"That is exciting because it is emerging from James Wenn's work that Rowland Hill and his gardens are part of that.

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"Shakespeare's play 'As You Like It' appears to refer to Soulton Hall and Rowland Hill.

"The Geneva Bible was the Bible of Protestantism and was written in the Catholic ascendency under Mary.

"When he was doing that it was treason and heresy.

"So it was extremely dangerous work.

"Soulton Hall goes through this quite important phase where it is the house of an early Member of Parliament during the medieval phase.

"Then there is this extraordinary phase in the 1500s in which we are looking at where Rowland Hill is living here."  

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