In the medieval period, many men and women chose to live their lives within small stone built cells. Once inside they did not leave... for decades, until they grew old and died.

They were called Anchorites (men) or Anchoresses (women), and were often wealthy and well educated. They did this as an act of service to God, as a form of ritualistic sacrifice or to purge one's own sins or those of the wider community.

These cells were situated next to or within a church. They often had 3 small windows built into the cell: one to let in sunlight from the outside, one to view into the church and partake in Mass and one to pass food and their own waste.

Several "guides" were written advising these people how to spend their time inside the cell. Recommendations ranged from prayer, keeping a cat as a pet and digging your own grave with your bare hands in the floor of the cell!

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