World Heritage experts visit site

Wednesday 02 Apr 08

World heritage experts from across the country are coming to the region today  to take a look at the North East’s next potential World Heritage Site.

The twin Anglo-Saxon monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow has been chosen as the UK’s nomination for World Heritage Site status in 2010. The site consists of two churches, St Peter’s, Wearmouth, Sunderland and St Paul’s, Jarrow and was created by Benedict Biscop in the 7th century.

It will host a meeting of the Local Authorities World Heritage Forum. The forum brings together local authority elected members and officers from across the country who are involved in managing World Heritage Sites, and ensuring that local communities derive maximum benefits from World Heritage Sites.

Rt Rev Mark Bryant is Bishop of Jarrow and chairs the Wearmouth-Jarrow Partnership, he said: “ The world wide value of the twin monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow cannot be underestimated. It was home to the Venerable Bede, Europe’s greatest 8th century scholar and in its day formed one of the most influential institutions in the western world. Bede contributed much to the western world including setting the calculation for Easter that we still use today.
The site is also home to the largest collection of rare 7th century window glass in Europe and the some of the best surviving 7th century building fabric in the world.”