Jarrow Hall

If you've visited many museums and want to learn about the northeast's Anglo-Saxon heritage and the origins of Christianity, Jarrow Hall can tick those boxes. You may get a sneaky view of the River Tyne too.

Formerly this site was known as Bede's World. When Groundworks, South and North Tyneside took over the site in 2016, they changed the name, involved lots of volunteers, and installed some livestock (which I did not take any photos of).

We first spotted the red-bricked Jarrow Hall. The Grade II-listed Georgian House dates to circa 1785. It was built for shipbuilder and coal-mine owner Simon Temple (1759-1815), who went bankrupt in 1812, possibly due to over-commitment to supplying ships for the Napoleonic Wars. He had to sell and move out of Jarrow Hall.

A later resident Isabella Chaytor (1810-1894) is said to haunt the Hall as 'The Grey Lady.' She may be a happy ghost, as she lived a long life. You may have a touch of pareidolia and think you can see her waving at you from the upstairs window!

We spent a fair amount of time inside the museum and were first greeted by a grumpy-looking Caesar.

There was a depiction of a pic and an abbot.

The Venerable Bede is giving guidance and a blessing.

As the former name of the museum, 'Bede's World', gives a clue, a lot is about this remarkable priest Bede (c.672/3-735). He was born in the area and sent to Monkwearmouth aged seven; under his tutelage, he became a most revered monk and is considered the 'father of English history'.

Why is the Venerable Bede so important -.

Bede wrote scientific, historical and theological works. He started writing manuscripts as a tricenarian. He also helped to popularise the practice of dating forward from the birth of Christ (Anno Domini—in the year of our Lord), a practice which eventually became commonplace in medieval Europe.

His mentor Benedict Biscop is depicted in a vivid codex-type illustration.

Here is Bede's Death Song translated into English

'Before the necessary journey, no-one will be wiser in thought than he needs to be, to think, before he goes from here, about what of his spirit, of good or of evil, will be judged after his death-day.'

There is an exhibition of what a monk's life was like, They had extremely long days and little food. Piety was very much L'Ordre du jour.

The monks were skilled, and one particular craft was the making of stained glass windows. Benedict Biscop had brought glaziers over from France. This site has some of the earliest examples of stained glass.

Another skill was writing and there is a copy of the Codex Amiatinus on show.

My main reason for visiting Jarrow Hall was its Analemmatic sundial. Alas, when we gazed at a broken brick, tiled and concrete mosaic, it was most disappointing. Further insult was that a picnic bench had been put over some of the Roman numerals.

There are a few farmyard animals and some Anglo Saxon buildings to wander around.

I was more interested in two wooden sculptures, if you know what you are looking at (I didn't). Have you heard of Beowulf? Beowulf is not a modern-day adventure series, but a poem that dates from around the 7th century; some say earlier, and some say later. It has over 688 translations as of 2020.

Guess what Grendel's favourite pastry is: Danish!