Looking up into a 'priest hole' at Speke Hall in Liverpool. This is seen through the tiny aperture at the end of the spooky corridor photograph I posted this morning. Used a monochrome filter for this version as I've posted it only a few months ago for another theme. Built for the resident Catholic priest to hide from religious persecution if the house was raided. The entrance is a secret door in the wall leading to a narrow space near the chimney. From there this 'staircase' (ladder) provided further escape into a hidden roof space. Religious persecution happened particularly during Elizabeth I's reign and Catholic families took great risk to continue to covertly practise their faith. Photograph shows a softly illuminated wall made from huge handmade pieces of stone, against which at ninety degrees is a narrow wooden ladder up into a roof void. The space is claustrophobically small.

Staircase to Survival
for #PalacesAndGardens theme of #SecretSpaces

The alt text provides further detail.

#EastCoastKin #photography #priesthole #survival #stairs #SpekeHall #Liverpool #dangeroustimes #hidden
(iPhone camera)

Photograph of an upstairs corridor at Speke Hall, Liverpool. First visited as a child (9 or 10) and this was the point where I started to feel uneasy. A room on the left is where I lasted about 30 seconds before dashing out, father in concerned tow. It was this visit that I remember my first awareness of other worldly elements but couldn't articulate it nor really understand it. I revisited last year. Turns out the Grade I listed, Tudor masterpiece of Speke Hall is regarded as one of the most haunted buildings in England. I was not aware of this as a child! Lots available online if you want to know more. Photograph shows a long corridor with dark wood panelling and leaded glass windows on the right. A long patterned runner covers the dark floor boards. An intricately carved dark wood sideboard, two chairs and a tall grandfather clock blend into the panelling on the left either side of doorways into bedrooms. Straight ahead is a wall light and a small illuminated square which shows a glimpse into the priest hole.

Corridor of Apprehension

for #PalacesAndGardens themes of #GhostsAndPhantoms #SecretSpaces

#EastCoastKin #photography #SpekeHall #Merseyside #dark #corridor #Tudor #history #haunted #priesthole #uneasy
Further info in Alt text.

(iPhone camera)

Looking up into a 'priest hole' at Speke Hall in Liverpool. Built for the resident Catholic priest to hide from religious persecution if the house was raided. The entrance is a secret door in the wall leading to a narrow space near the chimney. From there this 'staircase' (ladder) provided further escape into a hidden roof space. Religious persecution happened particularly during Elizabeth I's reign and Catholic families took great risk to continue to covertly practise their faith. So can a ladder technically be a staircase? Couldn't exactly make a fancy one for this purpose. Photograph shows a softly illuminated wall made from huge handmade pieces of stone, against which at ninety degrees is a narrow wooden ladder up into a roof void. The space is claustrophobically small.

Staircase to Survival
for #PalacesAndGardens theme of #Stairs

Pushing the limits of 'staircase' here but check out the Alt text.

#EastCoastKin #photography #priesthole #survival #stairs #SpekeHall #Liverpool #dangeroustimes #hidden
(iPhone camera)

Beautiful Harvington Hall, one of England’s finest medieval houses. It is most famous for its wonderful Elizabethan wall paintings and its many ingenious priest holes @harvingtonhall.bsky.social #priesthole #priesthide #harvingtonhall

Exploring one of the many priest holes at @harvingtonhall.bsky.social This one is hidden in the library and is quite spacious, compared to many, although a tight squeeze to actually get inside #harvingtonhall #harvington #priesthole #priesthide #elizabethan