You might have spotted the word on OS maps – or perhaps come across one when you're traipsing around a National Trust property. But what actually is a hermitage? The clue's possibly in the name, but there are actually a number of different uses and histories for hermitages around the UK...
What is a hermitage?
Historically, hermitages were places where religious men lived on their own to escape the temptations of the world outside – a self-inflicted exclusion from society. These would usually be caves or small structure in mountains, forests or on islands. The name “hermit” comes from erēmos, Greek for wilderness. This practice of isolation and self-discipline predominantly took place during the early years of Christianity, and began in the second or third century AD in the deserts of Syria and Egypt, before proceeding to spread across Europe in the centuries that followed.
More recently in the 18th century, hermitages became used as architectural features in landscape gardens. They became a place for the aristocratic owners to rest and enjoy the delights of their perfectly manicured gardens, while staying out of the sun.
Even though the role of the two types of hermitage were rather different, they share a common purpose: a place to retreat from the world and take stock.
Both types of hermitage can be found around the UK today. Some hermitages are no longer in existence, but their legacy is imprinted on the land they once stood – Lansallos in Cornwall is named after the hermit St Salwys, who lived there during the ninth century, and ‘lan’ means a religious place, such as a chapel or hermitage.
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Top image: The Hermitage at Black Linn Falls along the River Braan in Perthshire (credit: Getty Images)
