Research Question: Pirate hiding places

[BloodyBuckets]

Periodically, your old mate Bloody gets an email like this one, looking for a very special piece of knowledge. Any of you salts know an answer?

Hello.

I am a writer doing a project that revolves around an old ship.  I am curious to know whether a captain (my period is 16th century, but any other ideas from another time are more than welcome) would have any secret compartment in his quarters. Also, how is it constructed and what did they usually hold?

I would greatly appreciate anyone's assistance in this matter, especially since time is of the essence. If on the other hand you cannot help me, might you know anyone else would could?

Thanking you in advance,

V. Seeterram.

[Black Hearted Pearl]

If it were a secret, hows would ye know about it now?

My suggestion would be to contact an antiques dealer who specializes in 16th century furniture. Most likely any of the hiding places built into furniture pieces could have been duplicated aboard a ship.

[Black Syren]

I know that during the 1800's and probably before that some portable writing desks held a secret compartment ans was used for spys carrying important papers..Also like in the POTC movie some drawers and trunks had secret compartments. But like Pearl said your best bet would be to check an antiques dealer or someone who would specialize in information on ships in that time period..As for the desks I believe the french made them and the locks could not be picked. The desks were literally torn apart...

[the Royaliste]

Altho the Captain of most any large vessel would have a private desk that COULD contain 'secret' places, almost all wooden ship construction, past and present accomodates many small nooks and crannies created by the nature of the beast (ships aren't 'square' or 'plumb')..These are all traditionally known as 'hidey-holes'.....Not rocket science to understand why....most all have access to allow for ventilation or repair thru the cielings..('slats' on the interior sides of vessels)......

[Merrydeath]

A friend of mine had a bed that had a secret compartment in it. A panel on the headboard slid over, for jewelry and important papers.

http://www.swgfl.org.uk/dorset/html/smuggl...ler/sailors.htm

http://magicus.hmking.net/magic/30.html

http://www.risd.edu/pdf/mus_ed/pend_house.pdf

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles11/colonial-16.shtml

There is wealth of drawer and cubby hole, but no secret compartment! For that, search was made in vain. One should always examine an old desk for this, as secret compartments were not uncommon in the old days. And one may readily satisfy himself. Measure the outside dimensions; then measure each drawer and pigeonhole; and if at any part there is discrepancy, investigate there for the space. Be-hind the swing-door compartment which is so common in old desks, in the centre of the pigeonholes, is a favorite place for the concealed cavity, and it is usual to get at it by touching a spring and drawing the entire swing-door compartment forward like a box—whereupon the space is disclosed, behind.

[Captain Scurvy Dog]

er... secret compartments....why no such thing.... thar be no secret compartments in me ship... an ye be bloody fish bait if'en i catches ye pokin' around lookin' fer it! ...that is if'en i hads one...of course... an by thee by, Merry...whar did ye say that thar friend wit thee jewelry be stayin? hahar

[Merrydeath]

n by thee by, Merry...whar did ye say that thar friend wit thee jewelry be stayin? hahar

Georgia, and her new husband likes to collect guns and target shoot. Be my guest Scurvy! Braver and deader men then you have tried!

Once when she was jogging about the St Louis Arch, she noticed a man in his car looking at her, as he was parked in the ARch circle. As she rounded another curve, she noticed he had exposed himself for all nature to see, and was showing her he appreciated her form.

She ran close enough to get his license number and then shouted.. "that looks like a (weiner) but smaller. "