Behind that bookcase, the one with the all the Estate ledgers on it, is a hidden room. Really there is a room back there! Reach up to the left candle sconce over the case and turn it to the right… Now stand back… Isn’t it neat how the whole case slides sideways?
We’re not sure who built it or why — If it’s a Priest Hole, it’s the most elaborate one that’s known to exist. Now let’s step in . . . Yes, it’s a small flat complete with a tidy little kitchen and sleeping alcove. There’s even a jakes built into that corner over there. And there’s natural light from that large window. What’s odd is that we can’t find that window from the outside!
We discovered it well over a century back when Isabella Summer, the Head Librarian at that time, decided that the Archives needed a compete cleaning. One of the Several Annies was polishing that sconce and she pushed it just right. Was she surprised!
There were no papers, no personal effects, not a scrap of leftover food. Not even a Bible. Isabella checked thoroughly but there were no records in the Archives about it.
Ahhhh — you noticed it’s occupied now. It’s been used since the time it was found as living space again, as it’s quite favoured by the residents here. The current occupant is a musician who has been working for me as an indexer for our vast collection of Celtic folklore which explains the work desk here covered with chapbooks, folklore bulletins, and other printed ephemera. You can hear her playing her cworth late in the night sometimes . . .
Now let’s head on and close this bookcase back up. I think you were interested in seeing the first edition Brothers Grimm we have here. Did you know Philip Pullman just did a translation of some of their tales?
