Question

Why do I have the following terms together, and what can you tell me about them as a group? "Hermit cells," "Rococo grottoes," "pagodas," "Hindu pavilions," "broken aquaducts," and "gothic dairies."

Answer

These are all examples of "follies," popular among wealthy British landowners during the mid-18th and early 19th century. Follies tend to be evocative, picturesque, romantic objects in the landscape, rather than buildings constructed for use.