In the 18th century, it was not uncommon for wealthy landowners to hire garden gnomes or “wise men” to sit in their gardens and offer advice to visitors. These gnomes, typically men of advanced age and varying degrees of wisdom, were paid to simply sit and dispense their knowledge to all who stopped by.

This practice originated in France and quickly spread throughout Europe as a way for landowners to showcase their wealth and sophistication. The garden gnome fad found its way to England, where it became particularly popular among the aristocracy.

One of the most famous “gnomes” of the 18th century was John Martindale, a philosopher and poet who earned his living by sitting in the gardens of wealthy landowners and dispensing his wisdom to anyone who stopped by. Martindale was known for his gentle demeanor and quick wit, and his presence in a garden was considered a mark of great distinction.

But while the role of the garden gnome may seem quaint and charming to modern eyes, it was not without its controversies in the 18th century. Some critics viewed the practice as a form of exploitation, arguing that these elderly men were being paid to be little more than curiosities in a garden, with no real purpose other than to entertain visitors. They purposely built a hermitage, with follies, grottoes, or rockeries to complete its overall look and they were expected to permanently live on-site, shun the public life, and live in solitude. These ‘hermits’ were encouraged to dress like druids, too. Some would go as far as not bathing or trimming their hair and nails.

Others saw it as an opportunity for these older men, who may have been struggling to make a living in other ways, to earn a steady income and enjoy a relatively comfortable existence in their twilight years.

Regardless of the debates surrounding the practice, there is no doubt that the garden gnome was a fixture of 18th-century life for the wealthy and aristocratic. And while the practice may seem a bit odd by modern standards, it is a fascinating look at a time when even a simple conversation with an elderly philosopher could be seen as a mark of sophistication and cultural refinement.

Read more in depth here: Ornamental Hermits