Hi Pennie,
If you do indeed make it to the castle during opening times, that would be great! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you'll be able to take a picture of the secret room or that they will have a photo of it already available...I wish they would include it on their Broughton Castle site. The pictures they already have on the site are beautiful. Also, there is a hall or room where there are paintings of the various Lord Saye and Sele's of the castle...the one connected to the secret room, William Fiennes, I believe died in the early 1640's...off the top of my head. Maybe they'll let you photograph that?? I know...I'm pushing it! And he is buried in the little church yard next to the tiny church on the grounds of the castle.
I corresponded with the current Lord Saye and Sele's secretary and she discussed me and Rev. John Mayo with him. He went through his papers looking for a Mayo/Fiennes connection, but was unable to locate one. But I've found a connection between them on this side of the Atlantic...and also to some of the persons that you mentioned earlier connected to the secret room. They invited me to the castle and to meet with the current Lord Saye and Sele who lives there. Perhaps if you mention my name, there will be a possibility that he will remember me? He knows I'm crazed about getting a picture of the secret room, but all he did was invite me to come and see the secret room for myself...which I probably will at some point in my life.
Yes...I've seen " Shakespeare in Love ", knowing that it was made at Broughton Castle. ANYWAY....any help that you could give me would be very much appreciated, and please let me pay for your film or the guide book or whatever. I'll be happy to give you my address by e-mail. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this side of the Pond! Thanks again for your kindness!
Jean Mayo.
