Soulton Long Barrow

07/12/2025

Our last open day of 2025 was a gentle, wet and muddy morning.

Thank you to all those who ventured out to experience Soulton Long Barrow. A special hello to Daisy, (the dog) who successfully covered me in mud the moment I arrived, it was wonderful to receive your muddy love today!

Only one more opportunity this year to be inside the barrow before we all take a well-deserved break until the new year.

Our wonderfully uplifting and joyous celebration for the Winter Solstice. There are only a small handful of tickets left so if you have been thinking about joining us for the winter solstice this year, don't delay in booking your space.

With love,

Merryn Tenalach

(Picture from Pexels, not actual Daisy)

To book your solstice tickets, follow this link where you can read more about it and make your booking:

www.merryntenalach.com/merrynevents

05/12/2025

We are open to the public on Sunday 7th December 10am-1pm for our last open day of 2025.

Please do come along and say hello to Merryn, Local Guardian, who will be on hand to answer any questions you have.

02/12/2025

For those who are wanting to join us for the Winter Solstice gathering with storytelling, song, and (all being well and weather providing), the observation of the sunset through the back gate of the barrow...we're down to the final 11 tickets.

We're not sharing this to be 'sales-y', we're sharing this because we know so many of you want to be there and soon, we are going to be at capacity. We want our niche owners and most committed followers to have first refusal on tickets.

You can purchase your ticker to 'Winter Solstice at Soulton Long Barrow' over on Merryn's website: https://www.merryntenalach.com/merrynevents

-----Niche owners, please check your email as you should have received a discount code to purchase a reduced rate ticket-----

02/12/2025

Last week Soulton Long Barrow held a placement ceremony for one of our existing niche holders. Merryn was at the barrow working 1:1 with a grief tending client. A walking group rambled through giving the barrow the upmost admiration and respect to the barrow, those held within and those who were a part in its creation.

This week...it's open day week!

If you would like to come and visit Soulton Long Barrow, this is our last open day of 2025!

You can meet Merryn, our Guardian, and walk through the gates of the barrow to get a sense of what it feels like to be inside. Maybe the barrow is the perfect location for your loved ones ashes? Maybe it's where you'd like to be?

Sunday 7th December 10am-1pm.

As always, please park at Soulton Hall and take the walk over to the barrow following the standing stones. If you have accessibility needs and need to park closer, please drop Merryn an email merryn@sacredstones.co.uk

21/11/2025

In light of recent fascinating research into Soulton Hall's history (including themes of humanism and preservation), the Ashton family has offered a perspective on how these discoveries are carefully upheld alongside the foundational, neutral identity of the wider landscape.

Click in the link below for more.

Soulton Long Barrow represents a significant project begun in 2015 and completed as a building on the Winter Solstice 2021.

From the outset, we have had very clear and firm commitments regarding its identity and purpose as a dedicated space. Meanwhile, many of you have also been following the historical discoveries emerging from Soulton Hall, particularly those connected to Sir Rowland Hill, the man responsible for the Hall's construction, and the background to Shakespeare's As You Like It.

After years of dedicated work, the Ashton family recently released new information that reveals significant depth to the history of this ancient place.

This new context concerns the Hall’s original constructor and the acts of preservation he undertook here almost 500 years ago.

Rowland Hill was a humanist resisting persecution, protecting people in danger, and Soulton was used as a sanctuary—just like the Forest of Arden in Shakespeare's play.

Soulton Hall now has a much deeper Reformation story to tell, which connects it in a sophisticated and pluralistic way to a particular moment in memory, and is therefore inevitably relevant to the constituencies that were engaged there.

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It is important that we provide clear context regarding our philosophy of stewardship, ensuring these new discoveries and the Barrow's core purpose are held in superposition through the mindful approach we have already established. These insights enrich Soulton’s heritage, and they invite us to engage thoughtfully with the nuance they reveal.

This presents a valuable moment to reiterate the foundational values of the Barrow and their coexistence with this now more publicly held part of the Hall's story.

Soulton Hall and the Long Barrow: Two Stories in One Setting

While the Hall and the Barrow share a setting, we want to clearly affirm the foundational status of the Soulton Long Barrow and confirm that they are not philosophically or physically the same story.

The Barrow is upheld as a dedicated space for managed neutrality—a safe place, open to all people of any belief, or none, where all are equally respected.

We achieve the coexistence of the Hall's historical findings and the Barrow's core non-denominational purpose through careful management and our ongoing cultural programming, ensuring the integrity of the whole estate is maintained.

We view this state of respectful harmony as fulfilling our duty as designated neutral guardians and supporting the fellowship and mutual inquiry that is a long-standing tradition here.

Please take a moment to read our full statement for the complete context:

➡️ Read the full statement on the Soulton Hall Blog:

https://soultonhall.co.uk/2025/stewardship-conscience-and-heritage-holding-soulton-in-superposition/

21/11/2025

Intersting news from another mound!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpwv44ey144o?fbclid=IwdGRjcAONGG9jbGNrA40YbGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHmscV0IGuJ17x-un0U1ChfprUSx-cLPfXOtZ3FiLB6EEZwlu7W-1yoPhjHvB_aem_1g5xV-VNerMZ-xFxCwCc7A

Marlborough College has been given the go-ahead to remove 20th Century buildings from the mound.

20/11/2025

Good afternoon everyone,

I was over at the barrow this morning and as I arrived, a huge buzzard was standing on the fence post. You should have seen me trying to contain my excitement. Shortly after, the two herons that are often by the pond took to the sky... queue another huge shrill!

I did what I needed to do at the barrow before climbing back into my car and just as I sat back in my seat, two swans flew over head.

It was clearly a day for the skies today at the barrow! I'm interested, those who have visited before or perhaps who visit often, what wildlife have you seen that gets you bouncing around like an excited toddler?!

15/11/2025

15/11/2025

Good morning, Merryn here, on this much calmer morning 🍃🍃🍃

I put our Winter Solsitce event out in the week and I have been taken aback with how popular it is though I knew when curating it how incredible it’s going to be.

As tickets are selling so quickly, I wanted to let you know, to avoid disappointment. We do have to cap the number so that the experience can be enjoyed comfortably by all.

Niche owners, check your emails (including junk) before booking as I sent you out a discount code.

Here’s the link to book:

01/11/2025

Many people, especially those in Western Europe, remember people we have lost today.

It is comforting to know that so many find the barrow such a peaceful place for reflection as they honour and remember those they love.

November 1st has for many centuries in Western Europe been observed by many people as a day to remember those who have gone before -- a universal human need to honour and reflect on the lives of the departed.

The long-standing nature of that tradition locally makes it a useful day for a wider reflection on remembering people we have loved and who are no longer with us in the ways they were when alive.

The Soulton Long Barrow is a shared space, built to respect people of no faith and people of faith in what they share. The barrow operates on principles of parity of esteem and respectful engagement, focusing on what is salient to all people regardless of belief. Importantly, the sanctuary offers a setting where no one perspective is privileged through communal ritual, ensuring every visitor is free to engage in reflection without accepting a tradition they do not hold.

The barrow acknowledges the power of community, providing a peaceful place for people to gather and support one another. It connects us to the rhythms of nature; the barrow's alignment to the solstices links us to a timeless, organic view of life, death, and renewal. Finally, it embodies the shared human endeavour in building a lasting, beautiful monument that continues an ancient tradition, transforming the structure into a genuine "gallery of life and memories."

On a day which for many is a day of remembrance, we invite you to hold your loved ones in your heart and reflect on the shared human journey.

26/10/2025

Day one at my new home?

Compleated it mate.

Phi the at Soulton Long Barrow.

19/10/2025

The next open day at the barrow is Sun, 2 Nov: 10:00-13:00.

Image: Soulton Long Barrow under construction In summer 2019.