Wearmouth-Jarrow Nomination For World Heritage Site

Submitted by James Doeser on Wed, 2009-06-10 16:17
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Interior of St Peter's Wearmouth Wooden sculpture of Bede at St Paul's Jarrow The twin Anglo-Saxon monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow in northeast England will be the UK’s nomination for World Heritage Site status in 2010. The monastery, which functioned as ‘one monastery in two places’, is centred on St Peter’s Church in Wearmouth, Sunderland and St Paul’s Church in Jarrow.

Wearmouth-Jarrow was a major international centre of learning and culture in the 7th and 8th centuries. Its most famous inhabitant, the Venerable Bede, was the greatest scholar of his day and the impact of his writings is still felt in the 21st century. Original and rare 7th-century architectural and archaeological remains of the monastery survive at both Wearmouth and Jarrow.

By achieving World Heritage Site status, Wearmouth-Jarrow will sit alongside the Taj Mahal and Pompei as one of the almost 900 most important sites in the cultural development of humanity. World Heritage Site status will also ensure that Wearmouth-Jarrow is protected for the future.

For more information please visit the Wearmouth-Jarrow website where you can read and download a consultation leaflet and more documentation relating to the nomination.