Bede's World
Encyclopedia
Bede's World is a museum
in Jarrow
dedicated to the life and times of Venerable Bede, a monk, author and scholar who lived in at the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Wearmouth-Jarrow
, a double monastery
at Jarrow
(today part of South Tyneside) and Monkwearmouth
, (today part of Sunderland), England
.
The main museum building features the 'Age of Bede' exhibit, including excavated artifacts from the historic monastery such as stained glass
, imported pottery, coins and stone carvings, and exhibits about Anglo-Saxon
culture, Bede's life and works, the life of a monk, and the medieval Kingdom of Northumbria.
There is a working reconstructed Anglo-Saxon farm
called Gyrwe after the Old English name for Jarrow, showing animal husbandry
with full-size reconstructions of 3 timber buildings from Northumbria based on the evidence of archaeological work. Thirlings Hall is the largest, with animal hide and other objects. The wood-burning fire in the form of a small pit/designated area is used throughout the year, and allows for a great smell to filter through the building. The two other buildings, smaller in size, are a Grubenhaus - a sunken building used as a cold store, and a Monk's Cell. All buildings are thatched and were built using traditional techniques.
The farm animals are of similar breeds to animal that would have been present circa 1300 years ago, to simulate the type of animal seen in Anglo-Saxon
England; cattle are smaller and sheep more varied - before selective breeding methods were introduced. Ancient strains of wheat and vegetables, such as those the monks might have eaten, are selectively grown on site.
Visitors can tour the ruins of the Anglo-Saxon monastery of St Paul, which has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument
.
Other site features are the a café located in Jarrow Hall, an 18th Century Georgian property adjacent to the museum, the Medieval herb
garden situated at the rear of Jarrow Hall with over 200 species of herbs, and a gift shop situated within the museum. Bede's World also has conference facilities, both within Jarrow Hall and within it's main museum building.
(54.9824°N 1.4739°W)
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Jarrow
Jarrow
Jarrow is a town in Tyne and Wear, England, located on the River Tyne, with a population of 27,526. From the middle of the 19th century until 1935, Jarrow was a centre for shipbuilding, and was the starting point of the Jarrow March against unemployment in 1936.-Foundation:The Angles re-occupied...
dedicated to the life and times of Venerable Bede, a monk, author and scholar who lived in at the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Wearmouth-Jarrow
Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Abbey
Wearmouth-Jarrow is a twin-foundation English monastery, located on the River Wear in Sunderland and the River Tyne at Jarrow respectively, in the Kingdom of Northumbria . Its formal name is The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Wearmouth-Jarrow...
, a double monastery
Double monastery
A double monastery is an institution combining a separate monastery for monks and an abbey for nuns. Examples include Coldingham Monastery in Scotland, and Einsiedeln Abbey and Fahr Abbey in Switzerland, controlled by the abbot of Einsiedeln...
at Jarrow
Jarrow
Jarrow is a town in Tyne and Wear, England, located on the River Tyne, with a population of 27,526. From the middle of the 19th century until 1935, Jarrow was a centre for shipbuilding, and was the starting point of the Jarrow March against unemployment in 1936.-Foundation:The Angles re-occupied...
(today part of South Tyneside) and Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth is an area of Sunderland located at the north side of the mouth of the River Wear. It was one of the three original settlements on the banks of the River Wear along with Bishopwearmouth and Sunderland, the area now known as the East End. It includes the area around St. Peter's Church...
, (today part of Sunderland), England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The main museum building features the 'Age of Bede' exhibit, including excavated artifacts from the historic monastery such as stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
, imported pottery, coins and stone carvings, and exhibits about Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
culture, Bede's life and works, the life of a monk, and the medieval Kingdom of Northumbria.
There is a working reconstructed Anglo-Saxon farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
called Gyrwe after the Old English name for Jarrow, showing animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
with full-size reconstructions of 3 timber buildings from Northumbria based on the evidence of archaeological work. Thirlings Hall is the largest, with animal hide and other objects. The wood-burning fire in the form of a small pit/designated area is used throughout the year, and allows for a great smell to filter through the building. The two other buildings, smaller in size, are a Grubenhaus - a sunken building used as a cold store, and a Monk's Cell. All buildings are thatched and were built using traditional techniques.
The farm animals are of similar breeds to animal that would have been present circa 1300 years ago, to simulate the type of animal seen in Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
England; cattle are smaller and sheep more varied - before selective breeding methods were introduced. Ancient strains of wheat and vegetables, such as those the monks might have eaten, are selectively grown on site.
Visitors can tour the ruins of the Anglo-Saxon monastery of St Paul, which has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument
Scheduled Ancient Monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...
.
Other site features are the a café located in Jarrow Hall, an 18th Century Georgian property adjacent to the museum, the Medieval herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
garden situated at the rear of Jarrow Hall with over 200 species of herbs, and a gift shop situated within the museum. Bede's World also has conference facilities, both within Jarrow Hall and within it's main museum building.
External links
- Bede's World - official site
(54.9824°N 1.4739°W)