Volunteers to 'hunt' for Catholics

Historic priest holes will once again be in use when re-enactors help bring the past to life at Harvington Hall, near Kidderminster.

Members of the Harvington Household are set to stage something completely different for the opening weekend - a "search" of the manor house's many hiding places - this Saturday and Sunday.

In Elizabethan times, the hall was owned by Roman Catholic, Humphrey Pakington. It was against the law to celebrate Mass at that time as both Elizabeth I and her father Henry VIII were Protestant.

Mr Pakington continued to celebrate Mass and had priest holes built into the hall's structure in case they were needed in a hurry to conceal clergymen. Hall manager Sherida Breeden said: "During the opening weekend the re-enactors will relive a moment when the family are interrupted by searchers trying to discover any hidden priests at the hall.

"They will be measuring and poking into corners, interrogating the family and servants and generally disrupting normal hall life. There won't be guided tours on this occasion but visitors will be able to see the activities of the searchers."

For further information contact Harvington Hall on 01562 777846