The hermit's view

It was a soggy afternoon for a garden party so the guests repaired indoors. I dodged the sandwiches and quiches on paper plates and took the opportunity to visit to this  nearby 'cave', known as St Dyfrig's cell. 
Dyfrig, whose name was Latinised to Dubricius, was an early Christian holy man who busied himself around the Welsh border and south-west England. The evidence for his presence further west is flimsy. Nevertheless when a cultured young gentleman named Richard Fenton built a small country mansion here in 1799 he wanted to impress his intellectual London friends when they visited. Hermits in romantic country settings were all the rage and so, in landscaping the surrounding valley Richard Fenton gave instructions for the creation of an artificial cave and hired a suitable ancient to occupy it, channelling Dubricius. I like to think he interviewed a series of local elders and chose the one with the longest beard and gauntest features to gaze pensively out from this damp niche when guests were expected. I hope he paid him well.

Returning to join the company I came upon a handsome black cat lolling on his the ride-on mower. When I mentioned this to our host he replied 'Oh yes, that's Fenton.'

Extra: Fenton the cat
The house previously blipped here.