A MUSUEM volunteer is set to spend 24 hours in a priest hide to raise awareness and money for Harvington Hall.

Phil Downing, a volunteer tour guide at the historic Harvington Hall - near Kidderminster - is set to spend 24 hours in a priest hide from around 5pm on Sunday (March 26).

A priest hide is the term given to a hiding place for a priest built into many of the principal Catholic houses of England during the period when Catholics were persecuted by law in England. When Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558, there were severe measures taken against Catholic priests.

Many houses had a priest hide built so that the presence of a priest could be concealed when searches were made of the building. They were concealed in walls, under floors and other locations, and were often successful in concealing their occupant.

Phil is set to spend 24 hours in one of the Hall's seven priest hides, located under the great staircase, to raise funds for the upkeep and raise awareness of the Hall.

He said: "I am really looking forward to spending 24 hours in the priest hide - it will be fun.

"I'm in there for 24 hours and I am not coming out - I will be in there for the duration.

"I am going to be bored if anything down there, but I am literally trying to recreate what it would be like for a priest to hide down there for 24 hours.

"I'll be going in at around 5pm when all the visitors leave the Hall and I will be by my own then. "

He added: "I visited Harvington Hall 10 years ago and fell in love with the place. I became a volunteer tour guide last year.

"I want to raise awareness for Harvington Hall, and also raise money for the restoration.

"I hope to raise around £1,000 all together, and so far we have more than £500."

To sponsor Phil, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/harvington-hall-1.