A hidden laboratory is hidden in order to protect the privacy of the genius involved. Its location is never revealed, and it is rarely used as a staging area or headquarters.
Victor Frankenstein rather frankly admits
"In a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house,
and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and staircase,
I kept my workshop of filthy creation; my eyeballs were starting from
their sockets in attending to the details of my employment. " (V. Frankenstein, M.Shelley; A Modern Prometheus, 1818)
Secrecy on his part is due to the shame of his 'unclean' or 'profane' experiments; being repulsed by his own activities, he must hide in the most remote location availible what could have been done anywhere reasonably private in the house. At no time does he ever intend to reveal his place of work.
Similarly, Frederick Frankenstein finds his grandfathers laboratory hidden behind a trick bookcase in the family castle.(M. Brooks; Young Frankenstein, 1974)
And of course, Clark Savage, Jr. had his Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic.
"The bronze man simply disappeared from his usual haunts, sometimes for months at a time, and during these absences, it was absolutely impossible to get in touch with him.
When Doc came back from these absences, he explained simply that he had been at his Fortress of Solitude -- and usually, too, he brought back some new invention, or the solution of some complicated problem of science or surgery." (L. Dent; Fortress of Solitude,193?)
The enigmatic man known only as "Docter Fu Manchu" (who in all probability never bore that name nor could claim legitimate descent from the Manchu dynasty) seems to have worked from a variety of secret lairs, each serving solely to disguise his presence and serve immediate ends.At no time did Nayland Smith ever uncover Fu Manchu's main laboratory. It possibly was in China - perhaps even Manchuria - but I remain unconvinced. Some location reasonably close to England seems probable, but beyond that we can only speculate.
Secret lairs are designed to fill a temporary role, and will be publicized or abandoned once the Universe is Under Control, or the World Ruled In An Iron Fist.
Doctor No's base on Crab Cay is a classic example of a secret lair.
Or Docter Nikola's laboratory set up in a deserted castle(Dr Nikola's Experiment; G.Boothby(1896)
... I would argue that the Batcave not actually a secret lair, as Batman never intended on revealing its location; it does contain most of his equipment, and as it houses his CSI equipment, and of course, that Colossus of Computing the Bat Computer, it might even be called a secret lab.
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