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The Soulton Long Barrow

Collaboration between Soulton and Sacred Stones began in 2014 to revive the ancient monumental building which was expressed from the late Stone Age and into the Bronze Age by the first farmers of these islands.  

This work has revived a practive of long barrow building not seen for 5,500 years.  

The monument is a tender, modern and thoughtful place to honour loved ones by the placing of urns, as the originals were, but it is very much of the twenty first century.

It has evolved painstaking care and research alongside imagination and craft.  We have worked with:

  • senior archeologists at Cambridge University,
  • a Turner Prize Winner,
  • some of the best stone masons in the country,
  • incredible artists covering ceramics, painting stained glass, poetry, music

to revive this very special and very ancient approach to creating monuments, forging a supportive setting, and liking our shared human lives to the harmony of understanding living well in a partnership of landscape and heritage with the generations that come before and after us, and wonder and the beauty and science of the universe.  

The monument is aligned to the rising sun on midsummer’s day and the setting sun on midwinter’s day,  and these and other conscious connections between the structure and the seasons and the natural world are designed to relate visitors at the barrow to the environment of which they are part, and the story of which we are all part.

The monument is primarily for the community of families that use it, but anyone may use permissive access to visit the outside (access for the general public is on foot only from parking signed at Soulton Hall) but care should always be taken to respect the space, in particular if a placement is taking place.  The Soulton Long Barrow has actvated an inspiring amount of creativity for all kinds of artists attracted by both the requirement to create memorials and also by the power and beauty of the project -- you can find out more about this energy here

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

#soultonlongbarrow

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The barrow is regularly used by faith and spiritual groups, alongside humanists  and charities for appropriate visits and events.  It is for consecrate use by everyone, please get in touch is this is something you would like to take forward.  

Anyone wishing to reserve niches in the barrow should contact the dedicated Sacred Stones team for this monument directly, and you can reach Bev or Toby for more infomation by the following methods:

Open days at the barrow are advised on our own home page under events.  

Taking its inspiration from the dawn of farming and architecture in the Neolithic, this pioneering monument is a focus for honouring loved ones, for contemplation, for celebration, for wonder, and for supporting community and each other. 

The active Facebook page in particular may be of interst, as will be the hashtag #soultonlongbarrow on instagram.

 

Modern Henge 

In spring 2020, as the completion of this monument came in to sight, we were pleased to report plans to build a modern henge.  This project is a collaboration with physisists from Oxford University. 

The announcement can be found here.  We will share more about it as this develops. 

 

Support for COVID 19 bereavements

We have agreed a temporary change of policy about use of the Barrow to assist families affected by a loss the Coronavirus Restrictions, learn more here.


Interview

"It took years to find the Right Place" -- Diana talks about what the barrow means to her:

 

Countryfile Visit

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shropshire Barrow

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"oh my word. It’s so calming" -- Matt Baker

"It takes your breath away, litteraly. It’s sort of magical" -- Ellie Harrison

Learn more about their visit to the barrow here

Countryfile Visit

 

News Coverage 

David Gregory-Kumar came that day we raised the standing stones and began the project.  

 

Guardain Artilce 

Oliver Wainrwright, Architecture & Design Critic for the Guardain visited the barrow and had these reflections.

BBC Coverage 

BBC Midlands visied as construction on the first chamber neared completion,

Discussion 

Prof Marie Louise Stig Sørensen Professor of Archaeology at Cambridge University discusses the themes and inspirations of the barrow with Tim Ashton. 

 

Essay 

You may find this essay written for LMH, Oxford University a useful insight into the project's inspirations and values. 

 

Sacred Stones

This project is a collaboration with Sacred Stones

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Star shining bright over the Soulton long barrow. A final resting place and a beautiful place to mark the celebration of life.

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01939 232786
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Soulton Hall, Soulton, Nr. Wem, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 5RS