{"id":{"repo_id":"cambridge","oai_identifier":"oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/377322"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cambridge/oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/377322","repository":{"repo_id":"cambridge","name":"Cambridge University","base_url":"https://api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"‘Spered in an hous aloone’: Enduring Spiritual Enclosure in the Middle Ages","abstract":"This doctoral thesis offers a new consideration of solitary spiritual enclosure in England in the Middle Ages (c. 1080-1525). It examines texts written for and by medieval cell-dwellers – particularly anchorites and Carthusians – to explore three broad areas of research. Firstly, it picks apart the exemplary reputation of the eremitic life in both medieval literature and subsequent scholarship. By emphasising the intensity of the cell-bound life and the tensions which persist even (or sometimes especially) when it is chosen voluntarily, this thesis argues that its potential for both extreme satisfaction and dissatisfaction is a crucial, yet often underestimated, aspect of understanding the experiences of medieval cell-dwellers. Secondly, this thesis pays close attention to specific features of life in the cell – namely enclosed space, time in confinement, and social isolation – to gain a deeper understanding of some of the nuanced physical, mental, and emotional challenges which may have faced cell-dwellers. As well as the subjective difficulties of confinement, this thesis is interested in the ‘coping techniques’ present in eremitic texts to help assuage the hardships of life in the cell and facilitate spiritual progress. Thirdly, this thesis often uses a comparative framework to shed new light on experiences of medieval eremitism. It considers anchoritic and Carthusian texts in tandem, for example, seeking both to deepen existing discussions in anchoritic scholarship and develop the literary examination of the Carthusian order, which is considered ‘thin and disjointed’ (Luxford, 2008). It also draws from modern research into the effects of solitary confinement to help identify parts of the medieval experience which are rooted in their cultural-historical contexts, and others which seem to speak to more enduring affective experiences. The first chapter of this thesis explores the extremity of the cell with reference to legal and ecclesiastical documents, as well as examples of regretful anchorites and Carthusians for whom the cell was not the expected seat of spiritual flourishing. Chapters Two, Three, and Four are each dedicated to an aspect of the cell-bound life. Chapter Two focuses on confined space, considering the physical qualities of cells as well as their textual treatment. It examines Goscelin of Saint Bertin’s 'Liber Confortatorius', 'Ancrene Wisse', and Julian of Norwich’s 'Revelations', all of which acknowledge and seek to ease the affective difficulties of living in confinement. The third chapter considers the peculiarities of time inside the medieval spiritual cell, exploring the different ways in which writers and readers confront the threat of a confinement-induced ‘chronophobia’. The primary texts of this chapter are a set of verses written on the cell doors of the London Charterhouse and their problematic explication by John Blacman, an inhabitant of the Charterhouse in the mid- fifteenth century. Chapter Four examines affective experiences of social isolation in the medieval cell. It pushes against a body of criticism which emphasises how cell-dwellers readily participated in both solitary and communal contexts by investigating some of the frictions between these two very different ways of living. Major sources for this chapter include letters concerning Isolda de Heton (an anchorite who left her cell in the interests of her children), Guigo I’s 'Consuetudines Cartusae', and Aelred of Rievaulx’s 'De Institutione Inclusarum'.","abstract_html":"This doctoral thesis offers a new consideration of solitary spiritual enclosure in England in the Middle Ages (c. 1080-1525). It examines texts written for and by medieval cell-dwellers – particularly anchorites and Carthusians – to explore three broad areas of research. Firstly, it picks apart the exemplary reputation of the eremitic life in both medieval literature and subsequent scholarship. By emphasising the intensity of the cell-bound life and the tensions which persist even (or sometimes especially) when it is chosen voluntarily, this thesis argues that its potential for both extreme satisfaction and dissatisfaction is a crucial, yet often underestimated, aspect of understanding the experiences of medieval cell-dwellers. Secondly, this thesis pays close attention to specific features of life in the cell – namely enclosed space, time in confinement, and social isolation – to gain a deeper understanding of some of the nuanced physical, mental, and emotional challenges which may have faced cell-dwellers. As well as the subjective difficulties of confinement, this thesis is interested in the ‘coping techniques’ present in eremitic texts to help assuage the hardships of life in the cell and facilitate spiritual progress. Thirdly, this thesis often uses a comparative framework to shed new light on experiences of medieval eremitism. It considers anchoritic and Carthusian texts in tandem, for example, seeking both to deepen existing discussions in anchoritic scholarship and develop the literary examination of the Carthusian order, which is considered ‘thin and disjointed’ (Luxford, 2008). It also draws from modern research into the effects of solitary confinement to help identify parts of the medieval experience which are rooted in their cultural-historical contexts, and others which seem to speak to more enduring affective experiences. The first chapter of this thesis explores the extremity of the cell with reference to legal and ecclesiastical documents, as well as examples of regretful anchorites and Carthusians for whom the cell was not the expected seat of spiritual flourishing. Chapters Two, Three, and Four are each dedicated to an aspect of the cell-bound life. Chapter Two focuses on confined space, considering the physical qualities of cells as well as their textual treatment. It examines Goscelin of Saint Bertin’s 'Liber Confortatorius', 'Ancrene Wisse', and Julian of Norwich’s 'Revelations', all of which acknowledge and seek to ease the affective difficulties of living in confinement. The third chapter considers the peculiarities of time inside the medieval spiritual cell, exploring the different ways in which writers and readers confront the threat of a confinement-induced ‘chronophobia’. The primary texts of this chapter are a set of verses written on the cell doors of the London Charterhouse and their problematic explication by John Blacman, an inhabitant of the Charterhouse in the mid- fifteenth century. Chapter Four examines affective experiences of social isolation in the medieval cell. It pushes against a body of criticism which emphasises how cell-dwellers readily participated in both solitary and communal contexts by investigating some of the frictions between these two very different ways of living. Major sources for this chapter include letters concerning Isolda de Heton (an anchorite who left her cell in the interests of her children), Guigo I’s 'Consuetudines Cartusae', and Aelred of Rievaulx’s 'De Institutione Inclusarum'.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Newis, Millicent-Rose"],"institution":"University of Cambridge","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["da Costa, Alexander"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-07-22","date_published":"2024-07-22","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:24:20Z","subjects":["English Literature","Medieval Literature","Anchorite","Carthusian"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/b325b296-d57a-43ae-ae54-8d94daf0c593/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.114181","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.doi"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["da Costa, Alexander"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.sponsor","label":"Sponsor","values":["Cambridge Trust (Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship) and Magdalene College"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Newis, Millicent-Rose"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2024-07-22"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Cambridge"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby.uri","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby URI","values":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/377322"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["English Literature","Medieval Literature","Anchorite","Carthusian"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/b325b296-d57a-43ae-ae54-8d94daf0c593/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"]},{"key":"dc:rights.embargodate","label":"Dc Rights Embargodate","values":["2025-12-12"]},{"key":"dc:rights.embargotype","label":"Dc Rights Embargotype","values":["embargo"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.114181"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/bc800af3-6101-4ed5-9d9f-d42d4b124a29/download"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This doctoral thesis offers a new consideration of solitary spiritual enclosure in England in the Middle Ages (c. 1080-1525). 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As well as the subjective difficulties of confinement, this thesis is interested in the ‘coping techniques’ present in eremitic texts to help assuage the hardships of life in the cell and facilitate spiritual progress. Thirdly, this thesis often uses a comparative framework to shed new light on experiences of medieval eremitism. It considers anchoritic and Carthusian texts in tandem, for example, seeking both to deepen existing discussions in anchoritic scholarship and develop the literary examination of the Carthusian order, which is considered ‘thin and disjointed’ (Luxford, 2008). It also draws from modern research into the effects of solitary confinement to help identify parts of the medieval experience which are rooted in their cultural-historical contexts, and others which seem to speak to more enduring affective experiences. The first chapter of this thesis explores the extremity of the cell with reference to legal and ecclesiastical documents, as well as examples of regretful anchorites and Carthusians for whom the cell was not the expected seat of spiritual flourishing. Chapters Two, Three, and Four are each dedicated to an aspect of the cell-bound life. Chapter Two focuses on confined space, considering the physical qualities of cells as well as their textual treatment. It examines Goscelin of Saint Bertin’s 'Liber Confortatorius', 'Ancrene Wisse', and Julian of Norwich’s 'Revelations', all of which acknowledge and seek to ease the affective difficulties of living in confinement. The third chapter considers the peculiarities of time inside the medieval spiritual cell, exploring the different ways in which writers and readers confront the threat of a confinement-induced ‘chronophobia’. The primary texts of this chapter are a set of verses written on the cell doors of the London Charterhouse and their problematic explication by John Blacman, an inhabitant of the Charterhouse in the mid- fifteenth century. Chapter Four examines affective experiences of social isolation in the medieval cell. It pushes against a body of criticism which emphasises how cell-dwellers readily participated in both solitary and communal contexts by investigating some of the frictions between these two very different ways of living. Major sources for this chapter include letters concerning Isolda de Heton (an anchorite who left her cell in the interests of her children), Guigo I’s 'Consuetudines Cartusae', and Aelred of Rievaulx’s 'De Institutione Inclusarum'."]},{"key":"dc:format.checksum.md5","label":"Dc Format Checksum Md5","values":["ad0d975f320dff06fb75a09c596cc8b9","87eda9de84448d1f82354d60eee3eb5f"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["‘Spered in an hous aloone’: Enduring Spiritual Enclosure in the Middle Ages"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["da Costa, Alexander"],"dc:contributor.sponsor":["Cambridge Trust (Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship) and Magdalene College"],"dc:creator":["Newis, Millicent-Rose"],"dc:date.issued":["2024-07-22"],"dc:description.abstract":["This doctoral thesis offers a new consideration of solitary spiritual enclosure in England in the Middle Ages (c. 1080-1525). 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As well as the subjective difficulties of confinement, this thesis is interested in the ‘coping techniques’ present in eremitic texts to help assuage the hardships of life in the cell and facilitate spiritual progress. Thirdly, this thesis often uses a comparative framework to shed new light on experiences of medieval eremitism. It considers anchoritic and Carthusian texts in tandem, for example, seeking both to deepen existing discussions in anchoritic scholarship and develop the literary examination of the Carthusian order, which is considered ‘thin and disjointed’ (Luxford, 2008). It also draws from modern research into the effects of solitary confinement to help identify parts of the medieval experience which are rooted in their cultural-historical contexts, and others which seem to speak to more enduring affective experiences. The first chapter of this thesis explores the extremity of the cell with reference to legal and ecclesiastical documents, as well as examples of regretful anchorites and Carthusians for whom the cell was not the expected seat of spiritual flourishing. Chapters Two, Three, and Four are each dedicated to an aspect of the cell-bound life. Chapter Two focuses on confined space, considering the physical qualities of cells as well as their textual treatment. It examines Goscelin of Saint Bertin’s 'Liber Confortatorius', 'Ancrene Wisse', and Julian of Norwich’s 'Revelations', all of which acknowledge and seek to ease the affective difficulties of living in confinement. The third chapter considers the peculiarities of time inside the medieval spiritual cell, exploring the different ways in which writers and readers confront the threat of a confinement-induced ‘chronophobia’. The primary texts of this chapter are a set of verses written on the cell doors of the London Charterhouse and their problematic explication by John Blacman, an inhabitant of the Charterhouse in the mid- fifteenth century. Chapter Four examines affective experiences of social isolation in the medieval cell. It pushes against a body of criticism which emphasises how cell-dwellers readily participated in both solitary and communal contexts by investigating some of the frictions between these two very different ways of living. Major sources for this chapter include letters concerning Isolda de Heton (an anchorite who left her cell in the interests of her children), Guigo I’s 'Consuetudines Cartusae', and Aelred of Rievaulx’s 'De Institutione Inclusarum'."],"dc:format.checksum.md5":["ad0d975f320dff06fb75a09c596cc8b9","87eda9de84448d1f82354d60eee3eb5f"],"dc:identifier.doi":["https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.114181"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/bc800af3-6101-4ed5-9d9f-d42d4b124a29/download"],"dc:language":["eng"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Cambridge"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby.uri":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/377322"],"dc:rights":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/b325b296-d57a-43ae-ae54-8d94daf0c593/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"],"dc:rights.embargodate":["2025-12-12"],"dc:rights.embargotype":["embargo"],"dc:subject":["English Literature","Medieval Literature","Anchorite","Carthusian"],"dc:title":["‘Spered in an hous aloone’: Enduring Spiritual Enclosure in the Middle Ages"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Doctoral"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:24:20Z"}