 "burh"- fort), on the headland at present day St Abbs, separated from the world by a deep trench and a high palisade.This religious house lasted for about 40 years and was a double monastery of both monks and nuns governed by Æbbe.Around 660 St Æthelthryth, Queen of Æbbe's nephew, Ecgfrith of Northumbria took the veil as a nun, under the tutelage of St Wilfrid.