Saint Hilda

Saint Hilda (614-680) of Whitby was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman, related to Saint Edwin, King of Northumbria. She is best remembered as abbess of the double monastery of Streaneschalch, at Whitby, Britain, which she founded in 657, having previously been abbess of Hartlepool. The ruins of Whitby Abbey may still be seen. Hilda encouraged Caedmon as a poet.

There are several legends about Hilda, including the story that she performed a miracle by changing snakes into ammonites. This is reflected in the ammonite that appears on the coat of arms of St. Hilda's College, Oxford, the college being named in her honour.