St Paul's Monastery, Jarrow — Attraction in South Tyneside

Very pretty and surprisingly peaceful (as there were busy-ish roads nearby), informative information boards both inside the church and outside (English Heritage ones) in the monastery ruins. Would recommend downloading the free audio tour from the English Heritage website as it talks about the different phases of use (principally Anglo-Saxon and medieval) and the archaeological dig which discovered these findings. I was also very struck by learning (either because of the boards or the audio tour, I confess I can't remember) that whereas most monasteries/priories if/when turned over to residential use became manor houses, because the medieval St Paul's was so small and later further reduced, there was only a small cottage, and that was actually occupied until well into the twentieth century despite the fact that (from my own observations) it was rather small, badly abutted to the cloister wall so therefore probably draughty, and of course likely without any amenities. The past truly is...

Beautiful church with monastery ruins, St Peter’s was smaller church on the site, St Paul’s a larger church was built a little later on. The monastery was the home of the venerable Bede. It is an English Heritage site, however entry is free. There are lots of information boards around the ruins. St Paul’s was one of the first monasteries to be suppressed during the reformation in 1536. The church is open for you to explore and there are some original features. The dedication stone of St Paul’s.The Anglo -Saxon monastery survives as the chancel of St Paul’s church. Evidence of this can be seen in the south wall, Saxon windows are still in place. There is parking close by, there is also a little shop area in the church. Great little...

Lovely place to sit and watch the world go by, quiet and peaceful under the dappled shade of the trees, lovely church and grounds, information boards give you a good insight into the history and different phases of the church and monastery, even though there are only a few ruined remains of the monastery, if you go out the side gate there's a park with a play area for children and just the other side of the fence is Bede's World , St. Pauls church is also linked to Bede as is St. Peters in Sunderland. Lovely woodland walk which takes you to...