Introduction

St Paul’s Monastery, with its twin, St Peter’s at Wearmouth, Sunderland, was one of Europe’s most influential centres of learning and culture in the 7th and 8th centuries.

The ruins of the monastery and St. Paul's Church as they appear today, by Jill Atherton. © English Heritage Wearmouth-Jarrow was the creation of Northumbrian nobleman Benedict Biscop (c.628–90), who visited Rome and was inspired by the Christian life he saw there. In 674 he approached King Ecgrifth of Northumbria for land for a monastery. He was first given a large estate to found St Peter’s, Wearmouth, and in 681, land here at Jarrow to found St Paul’s. The twin monastery probably once owned much of the land between the rivers Tyne and Wear.

St. Paul's monastic site was excavated between 1963 and 1978. The excavated walls have been marked out on the ground.  © English Heritage 

During the 9th century monastic life here declined, although the site might have remained a place of pilgrimage due to its association with the scholar Bede. In the 1020s some bones, thought to be Bede’s remains, were taken from here to Durham Cathedral.

The remains standing today are from the medieval monastery, re-established in the 11th century. Part of the Anglo-Saxon monastery survives today however, as the chancel of St Paul’s Church. Inside St Paul’s Church is the original dedication stone – the oldest in England.

Bede (c.673–735) - writer, historian, scientist

Bede entered St Peter’s aged seven and spent his life in the twin monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow, which he described as ‘one monastery in two places’. Inspired by the scholarship and new style of monastic life here, he dedicated his life to study. Bede’s works continue to be read today, over 13 centuries on.