SECRET CHAMBERS AND HIDING-PLACES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") am astonished that any one should write so inaccu- rately to the Spectator as does " Sceptic " in the Spectator of July 6th, who says that the ancient family of Hanyards of Woollers Hill—alias Woollashall—were not Roman Catholics until "about 1800," when the then head turned Roman Catholic." They were always well-known Roman Catholics, and married in the eighteenth century into the Roman Catholic families of G-ifford of Chillington, Compton of Fox- cote, Hornyold of Blackmore Park, of which family I am the heir. There were hiding-places at Woollers Hill (as it was anciently called), and most likely at every other old Catholic mansion; and these places were necessary to put away all books and requisites of Catholic worship when from time to time the mansion would be searched. As a rule, at least during the eighteenth century, a kind intimation was given by the neighbouring J.P., so that nothing should be found. There was a clever hiding-closet which descended into the cellars at the old house here, pulled down 1860. Under it was found a half-crown of Charles I., which I possess. I heard about the " ghost " being seen during Mr. Hopwood's tenancy of Woollers Hill directly after the episode.—I am, Sir, &c., GANDOLFI. Blackmore Park, Hanley Castle, Worcester.
N.B.—The first edition of Burke's "Landed Gentry" gives the three spellings of Wollasshall, and also the quoted alliances.
Previous page
