Jarrow Hall (museum) facts for kids
Jarrow Hall is a cool museum in Jarrow, England. It celebrates the life of a famous monk, author, and scholar named the Venerable Bede. He lived a long time ago at a special monastery in Jarrow and Monkwearmouth. This monastery was part of a larger one called the Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Abbey.
This place has a museum all about Bede and his times. You can also explore a reconstructed Anglo-Saxon farm. There's even an old 18th-century building called Jarrow Hall House. They have lots of activities, school programs, and workshops for everyone to enjoy.
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A Look Back in Time
The site first opened as Bede's World in 1993. It cost nearly £10 million to build. A charity ran it, and it attracted about 70,000 visitors each year. However, it became too expensive to run. So, Bede's World closed down in February 2016.
Reopening Jarrow Hall
Good news came in August 2016! The site would reopen with a new name: 'Jarrow Hall Anglo-Saxon Farm, Village and Bede Museum'. A charity called Groundwork's South Tyneside and Newcastle trust took over.
Groundwork invested over £100,000 to get it ready. The site officially launched on April 8, 2017. They now host many activities for all ages. These include farm talks and live re-enactments. You can also see real Anglo-Saxon crafts. The old buildings were fixed up using traditional methods. Workers dressed in old clothes used wattle and daub to repair them. The inside of Jarrow Hall House was also updated. Experts from Durham University helped with the Georgian style. It now has a new coffee shop called Hive Coffee Company.
What You Can See Today
Jarrow Hall offers many exciting things to explore. It's a great place to learn about history.
The Bede Museum
The Bede Museum building has an "Age of Bede" exhibit. Here, you can see real items found from the old monastery. These include pieces of stained glass, old pottery, and coins. There are also stone carvings. The museum teaches you about Anglo-Saxon culture. You can learn about Bede's life and his writings. It also shows what life was like for a monk. You'll discover facts about the medieval Kingdom of Northumbria.
The Anglo-Saxon Farm (Gyrwe)
There's a working Anglo-Saxon farm called Gyrwe. This name comes from "Yeerweh," the old English name for Jarrow. The farm shows how people lived and farmed long ago. It has full-size copies of three timber buildings. These are based on what archaeologists found.
Farm Buildings
- Thirlings Hall: This was the largest building. It had animal hides and other objects inside. A small fire pit is used year-round. This makes the building smell wonderful.
- Grubenhaus: This is a smaller, sunken building. It was used as a cold storage area.
- Monk's Cell: This is another small building. It shows where a monk might have lived.
All these buildings have thatched roofs. They were built using traditional methods, just like in Anglo-Saxon times.
Farm Animals and Crops
The farm animals are similar to those from 1300 years ago. This helps show what animals looked like back then. For example, the cattle are smaller. The sheep breeds are more varied. This is because people didn't do selective breeding yet. In the past, they also grew ancient types of wheat and vegetables. These were the kinds of foods monks might have eaten.
St Paul's Monastery Ruins
Visitors can also walk around the ruins of St Paul's Anglo-Saxon monastery. This site is very important. It has been named a scheduled monument.
Jarrow Hall House and Gardens
The site also has a coffee shop inside Jarrow Hall House. This is an 18th-century Georgian building. It is right next to the Bede Museum. The house was fixed up in 2017. Behind Jarrow Hall House, there is a Medieval herb garden. It has over 200 different kinds of herbs. There is also a gift shop inside the Bede Museum. Jarrow Hall can host events and conferences too. These can be held in Jarrow Hall House or the Bede Museum.
