Garden Hermits facts

While investigating facts about Garden Hermits, I found out little known, but curios details like:

In 18th century England, some wealthy landowners would hire "ornamental hermits" - poor people dressed in a Druid costume to live in rustic homes in their garden, which may have inspired garden gnome statues

In the Victorian era, "ornamental hermits" were old men who lived in hobbit-like cottages in the gardens of wealthy people. These hermits were encouraged to dress like druids, and they would make scheduled appearances in front of their employee's guests

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 13 of the best facts about Garden Hermits I managed to collect.

1. In the 1700s, ornamental "garden hermits" were men hired to live on the estates of the wealthy. Dressed as druids and living in small structures, hermits would sometimes answer guests' questions or give advice. Alternatively, they would remain silent, serving as a perpetual play or live diorama.

2. In 18th-century England, it was fashionable for wealthy estate owners to hire people to dress as druids, never wash themselves, grow their hair and nails as long as possible, and live in their gardens as ‘ornamental hermits.’

3. Wealthy landowners hired garden hermits in the 18th century. Such hermits would be encouraged to dress like druids and remain permanently on-site, where they could be fed, cared-for and consulted for advice or viewed for entertainment

4. Wealthy British landowners often hired ornamental hermits to live in their gardens in the 18th century.

5. Some 18th-century estates employed garden hermits to dwell as living ornaments, sometimes even dressed like druids

What is true about garden hermits?

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Rich 18th-century English people hired actors to dress up as hermits in their gardens to serve as a sort of living garden gnome.