Twelve months ago the Hermitage at Hawkstone Park and Follies was destroyed by arsonists. Recently restoration work began on the grade II listed building, the work is not expected to be completed until April. During the course of the restoration, contractors have discovered a
200 year old secret. They uncovered a staircase that is cut into the rock face, which leads from the
back of the Hermitage.
Park bosses say the staircase is likely to have been the secret back entrance into the Hermitage.
Roger Whitehouse, head park warden of Hawkstone Follies, said: “It lends credence to the old tales about how the Hawkstone Park tour guides during the 1800s used to lead people around the front path of the Hermitage, then disappear and miraculously re-appear as ‘the hermit’ to entertain the crowds.
“As we did not know about the back staircase, we could never determine how this would have worked – now of course we know how they performed their tricks.”
Twelve months ago the Hermitage at Hawkstone Park and Follies was destroyed by arsonists. Recently restoration work began on the grade II listed building, the work is not expected to be completed until April. During the course of the restoration, contractors have discovered a 200 year old secret. They uncovered a staircase that is cut into the rock face, which leads from the back of the Hermitage.
4 comments:
Why would an arsonist do such a thing or rather, why would someone be an arsonist, even though I once burnt a canefield down.
I wonder what the original purpose was.
That was clever of the old guides!
James - Tell me about the canefield!!!
Aileni - I don't really know but looking at the geography I think it was a short cut.
Welshcakes - I think they had a bit of mischief in them too!
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