The fascinating real-life story about a reclusive woman who lived for decades in a dilapidated hut on stilts on the beach has been documented in a book.

Brittania, the Extraordinary Life of Olivia Parkes tells the story of Olivia, known as Brittania, who lived on the beach in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.

The book has been written by Michael Freeman and Robert Trowbridge with newly uncovered material made available by Olivia's family, who live in Vancouver.

Olivia was known as an eccentric older woman with an unusual lifestyle, but the book tells also of her younger years. 

The book cover, and Olivia the ballerinaThe book cover, and Olivia the ballerina (Image: Contributed) Olivia Parkes with her children Frank, Olivia and William. Picture courtesy of Lauren JohnstoneOlivia Parkes with her mother, also Olivia, and siblings Frank and William. Picture courtesy of Lauren JohnstoneOlivia ParkesOlivia Parkes Her mysterious past includes a passion for dance, appearances on the stage, work as a chambermaid or servant in London, and a clue which might reveal why she ended up living in Ventnor.

Then there's a section about the history of the boathouse, first used by the Undercliff Swimming Club at Myrtle Bay - a secluded part of Ventnor Beach.

Olivia bought the hut in 1929 or 1930 and went on to make it her permanent home.

She lived there for 28 or 29 years in semi-isolation and her way of life made her an object of curiosity.

As she became more elderly, the hut became more derelict - to the point where it wasn't even water-tight. 

People became curious about her living conditions, and children targeted her by throwing stones at the hut, but concerns deepened about the safety of her home.

The stilts were decaying, the timbers rotting - what was left of the roof was leaking (and that's an understatement).

Olivia didn't want to leave, seemed to be in good health, and owned the hut. It proved difficult, and a long process, to eject her on the grounds that the hut was not fit for human habitation.

The final section of the book sees Olivia moved to a flat in the centre of Ventnor, at the age of 76.

The County Press reported on Olivia's funeral following her death at the age of 80 in 1962.

In 2023, Arts Council England funded a project to create a film and 'zine' about Olivia, with the work showcased at Ventnor Fringe and Quay Arts.

The new book is available at various Island booksellers including Waterstones in Newport, Medina Bookshop in Cowes, Ventnor Heritage Centre, Ventnor Post Office and the Longshoreman's Museum on Ventnor Esplanade.