A TRUNK hidden at Samlesbury Hall in the 17th century and used by Catholic priests working in secret has gone on display.

The Pedlar's Trunk was discovered at Samlesbury Hall in the 1800s, where it had lain hidden in a priest hole for 200 years.

But after being sold it is now to return to its 'home' again following a break of more than 100 years so the story behind it can be told.

When it was discovered in a hidden part of the historic building, the trunk was found to be full of items used by Catholic priests, who had been practising against the law, including historic old robes.

The trunk was sold by the hall's then owner, Joseph Harrison, in 1892 to a local man who recognised its significance and religious importance, and he passed on it on to Stonyhurst College for safe keeping in 1918.

Lauren Catterall, assistant manager at Samlesbury Hall, said the trunk's return to the venue where it was discovered was great news for the hall.

She said: "The trunk was found in an area of the hall in the 1800s and it contains various vestments and robes dating back to the 1600s.

"It is from a time when Catholicism was illegal and people had to worship in secret.

"The robes were actually disguised as women's clothes so if they were found it wouldn't look like they were a priest's robes and on the top was a pink, silk bonnet.

"It's great that Stonyhurst have agreed to lend it to us. There is an awful lot of history to it and hopefully it will prove to be a popular exhibition.

"It is available to view at the hall now and we have recently installed new signage to let people know it is there."

It is believed that the trunk belonged to Catholic martyr St John Southworth, whose family lived at Samlesbury Hall, and was also used by St Edmund Arrowsmith, who was taken prisoner in Brindle in 1628 and was hung, drawn and quartered at Lancaster.

Priest holes were built into many of the principal Catholic houses of England during the period when Catholics were persecuted by law in England, from the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in 1558.

Previously the trunk formed an important part of an exhibition at the British Museum entitled 'Shakespeare: Staging the World', and it will now be on display at Samlesbury Hall until the end of this year at least.