A place of security here, once upon a time, could only be reached by a ladder; later, however, it was made easier of access by a dark passage, but it was as secure as ever from intrusion.  The fugitive had the ready means of isolating himself by removing a large portion of the floor-boards; supposing, therefore, his lurking-place had been traced, he had only to arrange this deadly gap, and his pursuers would run headlong to their fate.

Many other strange rooms there are, not the least interesting of which is a tiny apartment away from everywhere called “the Devil’s chamber,” and another little chamber whose window is invariably found open in the morning, though securely fastened on the previous night!

Various finds have been made from time to time at Compton Winyates.  Not many years ago a bricked-up space was found in a wall containing a perfect skeleton!—­at another an antique box full of papers belonging to the past history of the family (the Comptons) was discovered in a secret cavity beneath one of the windows.

[Illustration:  MINSTREL’S GALLERY, COMPTON WINYATES]

The “false floors” to which we have alluded suggests a hiding-place that was put to very practical use by two old maiden ladies some years ago at an ancient building near Malvern, Pickersleigh Court.  Each night before retiring to rest some floor-boards of a passage, originally the entrance to a “priest’s hole,” were removed.  This passage led to their bedroom, so that they were protected much in the same way as the fugitive at Compton Winyates, by a yawning gap.  Local tradition does not record how many would-be burglars were trapped in this way, but it is certain that should anyone ever have ventured along that passage, they would have been precipitated with more speed than ceremony into a cellar below.  Pickersleigh, it may be pointed out, is erroneously shown in connection with the wanderings of Charles II. after the battle Worcester.[1]

[Footnote 1:  See The Flight of the King.]

Salford Prior Hall (otherwise known as “the Nunnery,” or Abbots Salford), not far from Evesham, is another mansion remarkable for its picturesqueness as well as for its capacity for hiding.  It not only has its Roman Catholic chapel, but a resident priest holds services there to this day.  Up in the garret is the “priest’s hole,” ready, it would seem, for some present emergency, so well is it concealed and in such perfect working order; and even when its position is pointed out, nothing is to be seen but the most innocent-looking of cupboards.  By removing a hidden peg, however, the whole back of it, shelves and all, swings backwards into a dismal recess some four feet in depth.  This deceitful swing door may be secured on the inside by a stout wooden bolt provided for that purpose.

[Illustration:  COMPTON WINYATES, WARWICKSHIRE]

[Illustration:  SAWSTON HALL, CAMBRIDGESHIRE]

[Illustration:  PICKERSLEIGH COURT, WORCESTERSHIRE]