CHARLES II.'S HIDING PLACE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2197, 9 July 1914, Page 8

CHARLES II.'S HIDING PLACE

IX A HEREFORDSHIRE VILLAGE.

'In,the iold oak roof timl>ers;.of''.a-cbt-. tago. occupied by'.tlie/rector's>jiardener, atMoniiington-on-Wye, nine hides'frqm Hereford, an ancient construction lias been found-. resembling a huge beehive. (says,4lie '.'Manchester Guardian").. Itis. made entirely, of.straw tied in rolls: and held'together by'split bramble, just sis the old bee pots;nsed to' be made. Whatever, its purpose;.it displays clever craftsrnanship,; and, considering the' nature, of thematerials'.used, it is re-markably-rigid even now. ; It is too; large,to..have;been- admitted; through the little trap-door in .ihe ceiling on a

bedroom below. • ' ; ... ' ; : ._. ■:..''Tradition has always credited tin's opttage, "which is known as Double Cottage, with being'-a place where Charles the.' Second''hid himself;'' wlien.he; be'came a fugitive after Cromwell's,victory at' Worcester. The existence of the straw barrel," however,, has' not been known till•■ now,,. It is.:therefore suggested that the King .concealed himself in the barrel. If this theory is-not accepted, it is urged that the barrel, at least must have been used to e coiiceai the Royal jewels. It is a' "matter: of local history .that Charles the. Second lived for a.short time at Mohnihgfori Court, a fine.old house within a stone's, throw of Double .Cottage;' ; ;"v