Secret Chambers and Hiding Places


Read by Peter Yearsley

(4.5 stars; 87 reviews)

“Secret Chambers and Hiding Places” is a collection of concealments and their uses, almost all within England, although a very few passages and chambers in continental Europe are mentioned, Jacobite hidey holes in Scotland, while the final chapter of the book covers Bonnie Prince Charlie’s wanderings around Scotland, among caves and other hiding places. Most chapters are devoted to historical events; such as the the seventeenth century persecution of Roman Catholics (with many large houses having specially constructed “priests’ holes”), or various unpopular monarchs and their hiding places. The text is scattered with legends and true stories, with occasional skeletons found, still hiding, long centuries after the searchers have left. The author describes hidden doors, passages, rooms and pits with enormous enthusiasm … and with considerable regret when he has to describe secret places lost to demolition or modernisation. You’ll wish you could wander the country, poking into the darkest recesses of every old house you find! (Summary by Peter Yearsley)

Chapters

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Chapter 01 and Introduction - A Great Deviser of 'Priest's Holes' 15:25 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 02 - Hindlip Hall 12:22 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 03 - Priest Hunting at Braddocks 12:50 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 04 - The Gunpowder Plot Conspirators 10:38 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 05 - Harvington, Ufton and Ingatestone 12:42 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 06 - Compton Winyates, Salford Prior, Sawston, Oxburgh, Parham, Paxhill etc. 17:25 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 07 - King-hunting: Boscobel, Moseley, Trent, and Heale 16:07 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 08 - Cavalier-hunting, etc. 22:59 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 09 - James II's escapes 12:54 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 10 - James II's escapes (continued), Ham House and 10:33 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 11 - Mysterious Rooms, Deadly Pits etc. 15:20 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 12 - Hiding Places in Jacobite Dwellings, and in Scottish Castles and Mansions 14:44 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 13 - Concealed Doors, Subterranean Passages etc. 12:19 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 14 - Miniature Hiding-holes for Valuables etc. 5:46 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 15 - Hiding Places of Smugglers and Thieves. 13:30 Read by Peter Yearsley
Chapter 16 - Scottish Hiding Places of Prince Charles Edward 17:44 Read by Peter Yearsley

Reviews

I loved this book


(5 stars)

Part of it is that the reader is very good at virtually everything he does, but its a book about secret passages in old manor houses, which is just charming.

fascinating


(5 stars)

I will listen to ANYTHING read by Peter Yearsley, as i find his voice very soothing, usually I fall asleep within 15 minutes but I had to stop listening to this at bed time because I was so fascinated by the subject matter that I was trying to stay awake.


(4 stars)

A good listen that can be put down and returned to easily. And well read.

Excellent reading of interesting book


(4 stars)

I second Timothy's review. Who would have thought that there were so many places to hide in English homes of the period! Fiction writers tend to make them more roomy and comfortable then they actually were. Great job Allan!


(5 stars)

not what I usually would choose.but enjoyed it . beautifully read

Excellent book & I loved listening to the reader


(5 stars)


(5 stars)

listen to this if you like having fun

Good historical guide.


(4 stars)

Well read and entertainingly informative.