St. Cuthbert's Cave (29th May 2017)

29th May 2017
St Cuthbert's Cave
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Half term holidays upon us, so I took my daughter to see St Cuthbert's Cave where I told her the story about the Lindisfarne monks who sheltered there after fleeing the Viking raids with the bones of St Cuthbert. I particularly told her the story concerning one novice monk that helped carry the bones to their eventual resting place in Durham and how he was given the name Dodd, of which all Dodd's are supposedly descended. My grandmother being a Dodd added some interest to the story.
For those who do not know the tale. The monks of Lindisfarne took shelter in what is now named St Cuthbert's cave after the viking raids. With them, they carried the bones of St Cuthbert and traveled the old kingdom of Northumberland with the bones for a number of years before finally settling at Durham. The bones are now enshrined in Durham Cathedral behind the main altar. On the search for a new home, the monks eventually just numbered four, of which at least one was a novice called Eilaf who later left service. One day the monks found themselves out in the wilds and as it was getting dark chose to set up camp. Three monks went looking for fire wood leaving the fourth in charge of the bones, valuables, and food. While the three monks were away, the fourth decided to help himself to the food supplies. When the other monks returned, he excused himself to go to the toilet in the bushes and while he was away, the 3 monks discovered his crime and prayed to God that he be punished. Just then a fox leapt from the bushes where the monk had gone and the 3 monks believed that God had punished the 4th monk by turning him into a dodd (fox). The monks prayed for Eilaf's forgiveness and he miraculously returned from the bushes as the monk they knew. From that day forth he was given the surname Dodd and all Dodds are supposedly descended from Eilaf.
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Music
'Wherever the Path May Lead'
by Vindsvept
vindsvept.bandcamp.com/
vindsvept.com/
Creative Commons BY 4.0 license
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
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[@williamsimpson6798]

beautiful filmed

[@WHOTTAPOLLAVA]

somewhere i havent been yet but its on my bucket list ATB from SANDANCER SENTINEL new channel !!!!

[@NorrieMacTHESMOG]

I rededicated the cave back to the Celtic Church when I was there a few years ago

[@zerofox7347]

The vandals were much more skilled in the early years of vandalism.

[@WilcodeJonge]

By now all those Victorian inscriptions are heritage by itself ... Great to see [and hear] your daughter with you on educational expeditions like these! Looking at the internet it would seem there are TWO of those caves - i think this was the one near Holburn? Mind you - just a 10 days before your visit here i walked Doddington Moor and never knew about the one over there ?%!!?!

[@WilcodeJonge]

The last 2 years Mick has been quite busy introducing me to his favorite spots in & around the Cheviots and Northumbria in general!

[@ScotsWildcamper]

Great stuff Nick , i suppose cave paintings was vandalism in those days , don't like the modern writing on the rock or the fire though.

[@OUTDOORJULES]

loved this thanks for sharing.. still need to visit this glorious cave and surrounding area.. Cheers julie