The Legend of the Flowers and Brigands
St Kyneburgha
Operetta – Legend of the Flowers and Brigands.
The story is set around 670 AD in the village of Castor, Cambridgeshire, UK. The central character is Princess Kyneburgha who founded a monastery and was later made a saint. She was also involved with the Legend of the ‘Flowers and Brigands’ upon which the story of the operetta is loosely based. The operetta has been commissioned in 2022 by the village as part of the 900 year celebrations of the foundation of St Kyneburgha’s church in Castor in 1124. Ermine Street is a Roman road that runs past Castor.
The Legend
Kyneburgha came to Castor after the death of her husband and founded a monastery. One day when she was out in the woods she was attacked by brigands, who she believed were going to kill her. As they approached her they were swallowed up by the road and disappeared leaving only flowers blossoming along the edge of the track. She returned to the monastery declaring that a miracle had occurred. This became known locally as the Legend of the Flowers and Brigands.
