THE OWNER of a notable country house in Wem, has unveiled significant links between the town and English playwright, William Shakespeare.

Tim Ashton of Soulton Hall has completed detailed research into these links, and has suggested that some historians associate Elizabeth Wriothesley of Hodnet and the ‘scandalising circumstances of her marriage’ with the ‘Dark Lady’ of the sonnets.

Mr Ashton also suggests that others have gone as far as to link her with Juliet Capulet.

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Soulton Hall itself has connections to Shakespeare through As You Like It, with the play based on a 1590 text called Rosalynde written by Thomas Jodge Jr – whose family held the manor of Soulton.

The family then transferred it to Rowland Hill, and Shakespeare explicitly changed the name of the hero of that play to ‘Old Sir Rowland’ from ‘John’ in the source book.

As well as this, Richard III makes reference to the arrest of Henry Stafford, Second Duke of Buckingham in 1483 in in Act IV, scene IV – a genuine historical event which occured at Lacon, just outside Wem.

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Helen Morgan MP for North Shropshire has joined the All Party Parliamentary Group for Shakespeare after the breakthrough.

Mrs Morgan said: “Shropshire has a rich history, and our county is connected to all corners of English and Welsh heritage.

“Tim, James and Christine’s research into Wem’s links to Shakespeare makes for really fascinating reading, and I am pleased to have joined the All Party Parliamentary Group on the topic to mark North Shropshire’s connection.”