Anchorite House

Anchorite Road

On the west side of Kirkland, is a house called Anchorite House, which, as the name implies, has been formerly the sequestered abode of an anchorite, or religious recluse. Tradition reports, that it was originally a small hut, the shape of a bee-hive; and the narrow road which conducted to it made two circles round the house: and the fences of that road concealed the dwelling from the gaze of passengers. Before the house is a fine spring of clear, pure water, called "Anchorite Well," which supplies the principal part of Kirkland -

"Wherein the Hermit dewly wont to say His holy things each morn and eventide; Thereby a crystall streame did gently play, Which from a sacred fountaine welled forth alway."

(Spenser)