If UK’s nomination for 2012 does gain inscription many people who go out of their way to see it might be surprised at how little is “on view”! It consists of the sites of twin monasteries set up in 674 and 685 respectively – about 8 miles apart, near present day Sunderland. The founder Bishop Benedict “brought workmen from Francia to build these churches, the first ecclesiastical structures in Britain built of stone, and furnished (them) with glass windows, pictures, service books and the library he had collected on his travels. Window glass being unusual in England at the time, Benedict imported glassmakers from Francia, who established a workshop at the Monkwearmouth site” (Wiki) , They flourished until the late 8th and 9th centuries when Viking raids took place. During this time, with their easy access to the North Sea, they played a major part in the exchange of knowledge and ideas across Christian Europe. They were finally destroyed as working institutions by the Danes around 860 although they were resurrected in smaller ways during Norman times.

At Monkwearmouth you will see a largely 19th century church of St Peter which incorporates a tower, a few walls and a main door from the original Anglo Saxon church together with additions from c1000 and 14th C. It is set in a grassy area on which the outlines at ground level of the original monastery buildings are marked out – the below ground aspects of the site are considered significant even though they are not “on show”. Its location is close to some social housing blocks of northern central Sunderland and small workshops, relieved by the nearby buildings of the modern Sunderland University.

Jarrow also consists of a mainly 19th century church of St Paul but, in this case, the Anglo Saxon element is rather more significant and takes up one complete end (see photo – bottom part of tower and right hand side) – about 1/3rd of the building together with other elements from 11th to 15 centuries. There are also far more walls above ground from the original monastery in the grounds of the church . It is situated on a grassy knoll above a pleasant stretch of the River Don – the chemical and other industries of the Tyne can still be seen but are fairly well hidden.

We found Jarrow the more interesting and worthwhile visit. At both churches there were committed parishioners keen to tell the story of their church. There were no entrance fees – just a low key request for a donation. There was a camera fee at St Pauls but I had missed the notice and it wasn’t requested! Among noteworthy elements in this church are the latin dedication stone with the exact date in April 685 that it happened., the small Anglo Saxon glass windows and the early church layout reflecting both Roman traditions and the nature of services at this time.

The Jarrow monastery’s main claim to fame is as the home of the Venerable Bede (673-735). He received his education there from Abbot Ceolfrid who had been sent out from Monkwearmouth by Benedict Bishop. They had access to a library brought from Rome by Bishop and, among other things, set about the creation of 3 great complete bibles - 2 for the churches and one as a gift for the Pope. This latter is the only one to survive. It is in Florence and is, apparently, the oldest complete Vulgate bible in the world. Bede went on to become a polymath whose influence on literature, art, ecclesiastical practices, astronomy etc were significant in British and possibly European terms. I don’t know to what extent his name is known outside UK but (nearly) every UK child will have heard of the man and will in some way understand his “importance” – even if not really knowing why!!!

So what of the site’s chances of gaining inscription? Well it has an enormous Nomination File – over 300 pages thick together with a similarly sized “Management Plan”. It was on show at the Churches and would grace any library! We were told that it had been considered necessary to revamp the original document which was considered inadequate. This possibly explains the additional year’s delay in nominating to 2012 beyond that required to fit in Darwin at Downe in 2010. The organization responsible describes its activities here http://www.ucl.ac.uk/caa/Projects/Projects/index.htm . The file is available for download at http://www.wearmouth-jarrow.org.uk/about-wearmouth-jarrow/wearmouth-jarrow-nomination-file . And on the very first page is …… an endorsement from Pope Benedict XVI!!! Well not quite – rather a statement praising the Venerable Bede!! And this I guess is one potential achilles heel for the nomination – has it leant too much on the “Bede Connection”? We already know that mere connections with famous people are not enough to gain inscription – there need to be physical links to the ideas etc. And the links to Bede we were shown we very metaphysical. For instance a spot on the wall where he, as 2nd in command under the abbot, would have stood – the carpet there worn thin by the large number of devotees who, over the years, clamour to stand in that very spot! And nearby to the Jarrow church is the pay-to-enter museum of Early Mediaeval Northumbria called “Bedes World” further to trade on the man’s name (http://www.bedesworld.co.uk/ ) – but not part of this nomination

My expectation would be that the Nomination File will be very thorough and will have dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s . It would seem unlikely that the nomination will fail for lack of process or plan. The bigger issue must be its OUV. Now, as a graduate in Modern History, I must confess to a certain lack of knowledge and interest in matters mediaeval. My mediaevalist colleagues always pointed out that one couldn’t really understand modern history without a good grounding in what had gone before and I can understand that the “battle” between Celtic and Roman interpretations of Christianity was of great importance and that what went on in Jarrow was significant for linking UK to the latter and establishing common “European thought” in this period. But is that enough to warrant inscription? Well possibly. The Minister for Culture states in his Nomination File Forward that the site represents “a category identified as being under-represented on the List, that of the international cultural contribution of the European Early Middle Ages. The Twin Monastery had a profound influence on learning in the Middle Ages and played a significant part in the emergence of European identity. It is an outstanding testimony to the evolution of communal monastic plans and the culture of Christian monasticism which heavily influenced European society, economy and intellectual development, introducing ideas and setting a benchmark for cultural developments that have a lasting legacy more than 13 centuries later”.

I presume that ICOMOS will be sending mediaeval experts to evaluate the nomination. They may well be ardent in their desire properly to represent the period and its contribution on the List and even orgasmic at the sight of the few original stones left in place!! I guess the result will depend on their views on these matters. In my own view, unless you are a committed mediaevalist, it only just about justifies the assessment - “worth a visit” (if you are in the area)!