The old church of St Nicholas was erected in the 12th century and part of the crypt and basement walls appear to date from that period. There exists a record of a female anchorite who attached herself to the east end in the 13th century. There were others in Worcester, one at Diglis, and another in the churchyard of St. John-in-Bedwardine. They usually had themselves walled up into their cells and relied on charitable persons to supply their needs.
