THIS man is spending 36 hours locked in a cramped priest hide at a Worcestesrhire museum.

Harvington Hall's hall and programmes manager, Phil Downing, began the challenge at 8am on Monday, November 29, to raise money for bridge restoration at the site.

A priest hide is a hiding place for a priest built into Catholic houses during Queen Elizabeth’s early reign in 1558, when Catholics were persecuted by law in England.

The small rooms were built directly into the walls of houses, with false walls and panels in place which reveal the rooms.

The hide where Phil is based is 8ft long, 3ft wide and 5ft tall.

In a video posted to the official Harvington Hall YouTube channel, Phil said, “Covid has hit the Heritage Centre hard, and as a charity we have navigated through with very little income.

 

 

“With maintenance bills through the roof, we urgently need help in order to complete the needed restoration.”

Phil previously locked himself in one of the priest hides for 24 hours in 2017, with just a loaf of bread, a bottle of water and a pot for urine, to raise money for prior renovations.

The grade 1 listed, Elizabethan house received a grant of £117,000, from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, to help restore the two 1700’s bridges and are still £30,000 short for the much-needed renovations.

The work is to ensure the bridges are still safe for visitors and emergency vehicles, and for the upkeep of original Elizabethan wall art located around the grounds.

Assistant Manager of Harvington Hall, James Brogan, said: "Phil is currently 6 hours in to his 36-hour Priest Hide challenge, he is doing well and everyone here at Harvington is rooting for him.

“All of the money raised will be going directly to help fund the bridge repairs that are currently being undertaken at the Hall to safeguard and future proof the only two accesses onto the Hall site."

The hide is plunged into almost total darkness, with only an LED candle to provide light for Phil to use.

His efforts have already raised over £1,321 for the bridge renovations so far.

You can donate to the cause here, https://app.investmycommunity.com/harvingtonhallarchdioceseofbirmingham2172