Royal boost for World Heritage bid
THE bid to secure World Heritage Site Status for the twin monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow has received a boost this week with a visit from His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester.
The Duke, who is Patron of Bede's World in Jarrow, returned to the museum on Wednesday, 8 February, to hear all about the latest developments with the bid and the museum itself.
During his visit, The Duke met a group of eight and nine-year-olds from St Aloysius Primary School in Hebburn, which is one of the many schools to take advantage of the fantastic educational facilities offered by the museum.
Dressed up as monks from 700 AD, in keeping with the museum's aim of providing an authentic experience of life at the time of Bede, the children tried calligraphy, with quill pen.
The Duke was guided round the museum by Professor Dame Rosemary Cramp, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at Durham University.
Dame Rosemary, who is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished archaeologists in Britain, is an expert on the Anglo-Saxon period and led a programme of comprehensive archaeological investigation of St Paul's and St Peter's monastic sites over a 50 year period.
Dame Rosemary said: "The significance of this joint site is widely recognised outside the British Isles. His Royal Highness is very knowledgeable about Bede and has taken a keen interest in Bede's World and the bid for World Heritage Site status over a number of years.
During his tour of the museum, His Royal Highness met with some of the community volunteers who help keep the museum going and with local business people and entrepreneurs who have offered support to Bede's World.
The Duke also visited the science gallery which demonstrates how Bede linked the movements of the moon with the tides, and how his influence lives on today.His Royal Highness gave his official backing for the Wearmouth-Jarrow Nomination for World Heritage Site Status during a visit to St Peter's Church in Sunderland in 2008.
A decision is due this summer after the twin Anglo-Saxon monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow was put forward as the UK's nomination for World Heritage Site Status.
