An Anglo-Saxon "village" that is in desperate need of repair can now be restored thanks to a £249,979 grant.
Groundwork South and North Tyneside is receiving the cash from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore the reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village at Jarrow Hall Museum. The project aims to work with people from the community alongside heritage specialists to give three reconstructed Anglo-Saxon dwellings a revamp and bring the village to life for visitors.
There will be opportunities for people to be involved in the programme over the next two years. Under the scheme, the team will carry out essential restoration of the timber-framed homes, create volunteering roles and workshops in practical skills such as thatching, carpentry, textiles and bee keeping. The project will also see the installation of an accessible composting toilet, improvements to the Jarrow Hall website with 3D scans of the dwellings and recruitment of a culture engagement apprentice to support the team.
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The 11-acre site, including Jarrow Hall, an Anglo-Saxon farm, village and Bede Museum, is dedicated to the life and legacy of Bede and the Golden Age of Northumbria. Originally built in 1995 following a ground-breaking archaeological dig, which took place at the nearby St Paul’s Church, the museum includes an extensive open-air Anglo-Saxon demonstration farm as well as reconstructed dwellings, based on structures excavated in Northumbria, giving visitors an impression of the world Bede would have known during his childhood.
Andrew Watts, chief executive of Groundwork, said: "We're delighted that we’ve received this support thanks to National Lottery players. This project marks the next step in our 15-year masterplan and delivers on our access for all ambition, as we create training and volunteering opportunities for young and old alike and bring Anglo-Saxon Northumbria to life – enriching lives through culture and heritage.”
Coun Joan Atkinson, deputy leader of South Tyneside Council with responsibility for culture, leisure and the visitor economy, said: "This is fantastic news for Groundwork, for the Jarrow Hall site and for the wider borough. This funding support will not only help to restore and preserve our history and heritage assets for visitors to enjoy in the future but give people the chance to access specialist training and develop traditional building and craft skills that have continued to survive for hundreds of years.”
Anyone wishing to get involved can contact Marco Romeo-Pitone on email at Marco.Romeo-Pitone@groundwork.org.uk or for more information visit this website.
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