Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Abbey, Medieval abbey in Northumberland, England
Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Abbey is a medieval abbey in northern England, consisting of two separate church buildings on different riverbanks in present-day Tyne and Wear. The two sites lie about 7 miles (11 kilometers) apart and are linked by a historic footpath once used by the monks.
The twin monasteries were founded in the late 7th century by a nobleman with royal backing and grew into an important center of Christian learning. After the Norman Conquest they lost their independence and were absorbed into other church structures.
The site takes its name from two monasteries linked by a pilgrimage route, where monks moved daily between the buildings. It gained special importance as the home of Bede, whose theological works are now displayed in the exhibition rooms.
Visiting both sites in one day is possible but requires either a vehicle or local bus connections between the locations. Guided visits explain the surviving masonry and offer insight into the daily life of the early Anglo-Saxon monks.
The library of the twin monasteries was considered one of the richest in early medieval Western Europe and attracted scholars from many lands. Many of the manuscripts produced there are now scattered in collections around the world.
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