Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1924-09-10
SECRET OF ROOMS
Hidinq Places Found in Old Eng
IiSh Mansions.
Oldest Part Of Stonyhurst Said to Be
Riddled With Chambers and Pas
sages Used in Middle Ages


In the troubled times in the Middle
ages, when feuds and strife Of all
kinds were prevalent, many Of the old
mansions in England contained secret
hiding places, where fugitives could
hide in safety, while search was being
made for them. Some of these places
were fair-sized rooms, others little
more than cupboards, just large
enough for a man to stand upright.
The time of the religious persecu-
tons found almost all the old Roman
Catholic houses of note possessed of
secret chambers, often called priests
holes" There are still more than
three hundred existing in different
parts of the country, many In per-
feet state of preservation. There is
something distinctly romantic and
wonderfully interesting about these
old places, where men and women hid
In fear of their lives. Some unfor-
Inmates even died in the hiding holes,
for skeletons have been found in
many of them.
In the old mansion of Stonyhurst in
Lancashire, now noted college, there
are several of these secret chambers.
One of these was situated in IA wall
behind a large bookcase. The en-
trance to it was through a sliding
panel the opening spring of which
was cunnngly concealed in the wall.
When this place was discovered,
some years ago, an old bed and mat
tress were found in it, also a great
number of guineas of the reign of
James II. The chamber itself was
fairly roomy, and about five feet in
height.
Tradition has it that the oldest part
of Stonyhurst is riddled with secret
passages and chambers. Some years
ago, when alterations were being
made in the structure a hollow beam
with hidden hinges was found. 1t had
evidently been used in bygone days
for hiding sacred vessels and other
valuables.
Yet another secret chamber in this
old mansion is over the main Ell
trance, in the central tower. From
this, through a small hole, cunningly
hidden in the carving of the coat-of
arms of the Sherburn family (the for
mer lords of the manor) on large
shield of marble over the gateway, q
good view could be obtained of the
approach to the house. In this cham
Der a number of loaded horse pistols
were discovered, many OF them orna-
mented with silver. They had evil
IDENTIFY been placed there for use in
case of emergency. The fact that they
We're still loaded seems to show that
the emergency never did arise. And,
to confirm this, full flask Of rum
was also found
At Irnham hall, in Lincolnshire, is
another secret chamber This hiding
place Is very cunningly devised. A
solid oak beam, forming one of the
steps leading down into the bedroom,
was SO arranged that it could be lifted
up, disclosing a trapdoor that led
down into the hiding place below. A
fastening on the inside kept this door
securely in place, thus rendering de-
lection impossible.
The room, which was about feet
by S, and 51a feet high, was ventilated
by means of a chimney Its unusual
shape and the fact that 1t alone of all
the other chimneys, was not blackened
by smoke, gave the secret away.
IN,
covered to go straight down into the
secret chamber A subterranean pas
sage was discovered some years ago,
but the foulness of the air made ii
impossible to explore 1t very far 1t is
believed to run to Corby, a few miles
distant, and to come out into an old
house there.-London Answers.