: a secret room or place of concealment for a priest (as in an English house during the proscription of Roman Catholic priests)

Where is priest hole?

The Priest’s Hole cave sits amongst the darkened section of crag in the centre top right of the picture. The main event: Priest’s Hole is little more than a slender oval gouge in the rocky cliff face, but the man-made wall and the natural overhang above it make for an excellent bivvy spot.

What is a priest hole fireplace?

To escape this fate, a number of homes installed hidden compartments called priest holes, where Catholic leaders could conceal themselves in the case of an inspection. These small hideaways were often built under staircases or inside fireplaces or behind false walls.

What is a priest cell?

n. (Historical Terms) a secret chamber in certain houses in England, built as a hiding place for Roman Catholic priests when they were proscribed in the 16th and 17th centuries.

What was a priest hole used for?

Priest holes were concealed spots created especially for priests, so they could hide away safely during a time when Catholics were persecuted.

Which houses have priest holes?

A priest hole is a hiding place for a priest built into many of the principal Catholic houses of England during the period when Catholics were persecuted by law in England.

Why was a priest hole needed?

Priest holes were concealed spots created especially for priests, so they could hide away safely during a time when Catholics were persecuted. Under Queen Elizabeth I, priests were often imprisoned, tortured and even killed. Priest holes were specially disguised within a house to baffle search parties.

When were Catholic priests first smuggled into England?

From the mid 1570s newly trained Catholic priests began arriving in England and from 1580 onwards the Pope sent specially trained priests called Jesuits to aid them. In 1571 new Treason Acts were passed which made it an offence to deny Elizabeth was the queen of England.

Can you confess a crime to a priest?

The priest is forbidden to disclose anything said in the confessional under penalty of excommunication. Priests can counsel the penitent, and try to convince him to go to the police himself. The priest cannot report it, no matter the severity of the crime.

Who invented priest holes?

Owen’s skilfully crafted priest holes saved many lives during this period of religious turmoil and persecution.