SECRET CHAMBERS AND HIDING-PLACES. (To THE Enrroa OF THE "SPECTATOR.")
Snt,—I did not reply to the Duke Gandolfi and Mr. Pea the Spectator of July 20th, as I was waiting to hear from Mr. C. H. Smith, the agent for the Woollashall Estate, to whom I wrote for information. In fairness to Mr. Fea, I give below the material part of Mr. Smith's reply. Though it appears that my first informant was wrong as to the chapel, my main point, that there is nothing secret about the adjoining chamber with a fireplace, seems established.—I am, Sir, &c., ScErric.
"I agree with you there is nothing secret about the chamber at Woollas Hall. I believe, however, that the chapel is coeval with the ball, which was probably built by Thomas Hanford about 1585. I believe that this gentleman became a • Popish recusant' on the excommunication of Queen Elizabeth by Pope Pius V. in 1570. He suffered many things from Queen Elizabeth, and had his estates sequestrated, probably in connection with his religion. Hie son John may have conformed, but certainly his grandson, Francis Hanford, who succeeded to the estate in 1616, was a Romanist, and so were all the family until the extinction of the male line with Compton Hanford in 1860."
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