Hermits around the web – Hermitary
news, sites, and pages of interest about hermits and solitude
Smithsonian Magazine recaps the histoy of the ornamental hermit in 18th-century Britain in an article titled “Ornamental Hermits Were 18th-Century England’s Must-Have Garden Accessory.” Includes the comments of Gordon Campbell and other historians.
UK online magazine The Past offers a colorful feature titled “Seeking seclusion: medieval hermitages in Britain and Ireland.” The feature is based in part on the recent book An Archaeological History of Hermitages and Eremitic Communities in Medieval Britain and Beyond, by scholar Simon Roffey.Extensive and well-illustrated.
URL: https://the-past.com/feature/seeking-seclusion-medieval-hermitages-in-britain-and-ireland/
ScienceAlert reports a rare archaeological discovery: the remains of a medieval anchoress who appears to have died of a bone disease, perhaps septic arthritisor venereal syphilis, the latter possibility suggesting a penitential motivefor her eremitism. Notes ScienceAlert:
In 15th century England, a woman by the name of Lady Isabel German tucked herself away in a room of the All Saints Church near York. For 28 years, she lived in religious solitude as an ‘anchoress’, praying and contemplating God from the confines of a sealed cell.
Five hundred years later, remains thought to belong to the anchoress have been found in the recesses of the dilapidated church, buried in a curious fashion.
While experts are not absolutely certain that this body belongs to Lady German, the dating of the remains matches closely with historical records.
If archaeologists are right, Lady German’s story helps reveal a medieval practice “rarely reflected in the archaeological record.”
A life spent between four walls in solitary confinement might sound restrictive from a modern perspective, but many lay women in centuries gone volunteered for a life of isolation to avoid the social and financial dependence that came with marriage, or the lack of rights that came with being an unmarried spinster.
To some, the privacy, excusal from domestic slavery, absolution of sin, and autonomy were all seen as benefits that came with being an anchoress.
“The new study data allows us to explore the possibilities that Lady German chose to devote herself to a life of solitude as a way to remain autonomous and in control of her own destiny,” says archaeologist Lauren McIntyre from the University of Sheffield and Oxford Archaeology Limited.
“This chosen lifestyle would also have made her a highly significant figure within the local community, and she would have been viewed almost like a living prophet.”
This is Local London offers a short article about an 18th century hermit titled “The Tragedy of the Dulwich Hermit.”
“Samuel Matthews, known for many years as the ‘Dulwich Hermit’ was a native of South Wales born in 1733. He lived a frugal lifestyle in the woods and was subject to curiosity by the locals.
In 1772, Matthews moved to Dulwich with his beloved wife and daughter. He worked tirelessly as a gardener for the local gentry and lived happily. Several years later, his wife passed away. He became melancholy and quickly resolved to secluding himself from society. …
URL: https://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/23158550.tragedy-dulwich-hermit/
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The Independent offers this “Interview with Earth Prophet Emma Orbach.” The interview was conducted via mail, since Emma has no electricity or modern devices. From the interview:
“Over twenty years ago, Emma Orbach made the decision to leave the modern world behind.
She lives in the Welsh woodlands on her own land, at the base of the Preseli Mountains.
She grew up in a ‘rundown’ castle and attended Oxford University to study Chinese. However, following her intuitive connection with the Earth, she chose to pursue a life entirely without electricity, modern technology, or furniture.
For her home, she built a Celtic-style round hut from straw bales and horse manure, with a wooden reciprocal frame roof. Instead of electric lights, ovens and heaters, she has a fireplace. She collects fresh water from a stream, grows her own vegetables, keeps goats for milk and uses horses for transport.” …
URL: https://www.indiependent.co.uk/an-interview-with-earth-prophet-emma-orbach/