Bede's World

File:St Pauls Monastery Jarrow1.jpg

St. Paul's Monastery

The reconstructed farm at 'Bede's World'

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 artefacts 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 (pronounced 'Yeerweh') 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 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 its main museum building.

External links

• Bede's World - official site