Overview - Before Ebba- Family - Life - After Ebba - Common Questions
The
monastery destroyed by fire
Legends about Ebba which are thought to have no foundation
The Legends about Ebba which are thought to have no foundations
- Ebba arrived at the headland in a boat to escape a Scottish King of Dalriada
- She sheltered on urbs Coludi while the sea flooded in over the Myre valley so protecting her from her unwanted suitor. (This legend is almost the same as one about Etheldreda on urbs Coludi)
- On landing Ebba was welcomed into a community of the British Church
- Ebba had already established a monastery at Ebchester (North Durham). (This story can only be traced back to an uncertain record in the 13th Century)
- She passed through Oxford going as a guest to a wedding
- At one time she had been a recluse at Ebb's Nook at Beadnell (Records of this site only go back to the 13th century)
- Ebba was frequently visited by Cuthbert. (This seems unlikely as the community soon forgot Cuthbert's instruction)
About the location a most famous legend concerns a community of nuns living on the monastic site in 870AD and led by a woman who had taken the name 'Ebba'. With the Vikings approaching they slashed their faces with razors to reduce their attractions.
(This last story only appeared 500 years after the alleged event. Most likely the scribe was confusing the Ebba and Etheldreda stories as the Vikings attacked Etheldreda's site at Ely at this time.)
Over a long period self-mutiliation was indeed practised by some nuns as a way of denying this world in favour of the next.