What Is a Trap Door?
A trap door is a door placed on a horizontal level, either on a floor or in a ceiling. There are many different types of trap doors, and although the most common variety hinges on two hinges like a normal door on its side, they may also be on some sort of sliding mechanism. The most common type of trap door is that found leading to the attic space in a house, but in most people’s imaginations a trap door leads to somewhere secret. In some houses, a trap door may be installed to lead down into a basement, especially a smaller basement area. Often the trap door will lead to a very small storage space under the main floor, sometimes referred to as a smuggler’s hole. This type of trap door is commonly seen in movies and in novels, especially those set in a historical era. In this case, the trap door in question is often hidden beneath a rug or piece of furniture, and acts as a way of concealing a secret chamber, which may be used to store illicit goods, or to hide people. In the theatre, a
