ɪstˈæblɪʃt ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi nˈaɪn, æt ðə hˈaɪt ʌvðɪ ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ ɹᵻfoːɹmˈeɪʃən, wˌɛn kæθˈɑːlɪsˌɪzəm bɪkˌeɪm ɪlˈiːɡəl, ɪt wʌz jˈuːzd tə ʃˈɛltɚ kˈæθlɪk pɹˈiːsts ænd hˈoʊld sˈiːkɹᵻt kˈæθlɪk sˈɜːvɪsᵻz.
Established in 1549, at the height of the English Reformation, when Catholicism became illegal, it was used to shelter Catholic priests and hold secret Catholic services.