DURING a thoroughly enjoyable visit to Skipton I became fascinated by the anchorite's cell in the ancient Holy Trinity church, the one near the castle.

In the 13th and 14th centuries anchorites -- both men and women -- were blocked up in confined spaces next to churches in order to spend a solitary lifetime praying and dispensing advice and wisdom to visitors.

Communication with the outside world was through a small window which also served as a hatch for food, other essentials and the taking of communion.

Can you imagine it?

VISITOR: Ow doo our Cedric, son of Stanley, 'ow goes it in there?

ANCHORITE: Er, fine tha knows. T'first 30 years is t'worst.

VISITOR: Why stay in there, counting t'cracks and making friends with t'spiders?

ANCHORITE: Well, I'm seeking to triumph over t'two unavoidable enemies of human salvation -- t'flesh and t'devil -- by depriving them of their ally, t'world. Dost want any wisdom today?

VISITOR: Go on, then.

ANCHORITE: Beware t'effects of 10 pints of mead on a Saturday night and t'capacity it 'as to make all wenches seem bonny, when in reality most round 'ere favour t'back end of a cart.

VISITOR: That's what you said when I asked you 10 years ago and I've 'ad a great time ignoring your advice ever since.

ANCHORITE: Mmm, perhaps no one would miss me if I nipped out fer 'alf an 'our . . .

Back home in Bolton, I attacked the Internet to find out more about anchorites, ignoring the domestic suggestion that she would happily brick me up in the garage for a few years if I was that interested.

That way my wisdom would only be received when sought, contrasting pleasantly with the usual unsolicited avalanche.

A little research informed me that early anchorites chose to attach themselves to churches rather than become hermits in the wilderness and that these earnest souls pre-dated the monastic movement.

The cell at St Mary Magdalene in East Ham, it seems, measured 3ft by 2 ft and was about 6ft high.

Just the job for a lifetime of devotion and penance, but not very good for daily comfort.

A famous anchoress (that's the female version) wrote texts which remain popular to this day.

Julian of Norwich, who died some time between 1416 and 1419, lived for many years in a cell attached to the Church of St Julian at Norwich in East Anglia.

Her spiritual writings continue to be widely read in Christian circles.

As we left the church in Skipton (on the way to inspect the famous yew tree which has graced Skipton Castle since 1659) a helpful guide told us that there is a fully-restored anchorite's cell at a church in Chester-le-Street, Durham.

It might be worth a visit some time, but the thought of spending a few decades there does not appeal.