subject: A World Heritage Site Called Jarrow [print this page] Jarrow in Tyne and Wear was nominated as a United Kingdom World Heritage Site in 2011. In recent history it is most well known as the starting point for the 'Jarrow March' or 'Jarrow Crusade' which took place in 1936. About 200 people marched the 300 miles to the Houses of Parliament at Westminster to protest and bring attention to the unemployment and poverty of the area. The town was one of the major English shipbuilding towns of the 19th and early 20th centuries and when this came to an end in 1935, the people of the town suffered badly. A mural depicting the march can still be seen in the town today. This is a town that does not forget its heroes and celebrities but embraces them with pride and shares them with the rest of the world. The recorded history of the town goes back much further than this to the 1st century when a Roman fort existed on the site. If the name of the town is traced back to its origins, it translates as 'the marsh dwellers' they have come a long way since then.
St Paul's Church, Jarrow is linked to St Peter's Church in Wearmouth, Sunderland as a twin Anglo-Saxon monastery. This was the home of the Venerable Bede a genius monk whose scientific discoveries and inventions changed our lives. His life is the focus of Bede's World, where his scientific ideas are recreated in interactive displays and you can be a monk for the day. There is also an Anglo-Saxon demonstration farm where you don't have to imagine what it was like in Bede's day because you can see it for yourself. Local artists use the centre to showcase their work to the public.
Jarrow has a history extending back to the 7th century in the production and design of glass. Stain glass windows from that period can still be seen in some of the local churches and have been excavated at archaeological digs. It makes sense then that the National Glass Centre, one of Britain's main glass making facilities, can be found here. The centre is part of the University of Sunderland and continues innovative work. There are glass blowing demonstrations and exhibitions of finished works for day visitors but for anyone staying a bit longer in the area, the centre holds courses suitable for all ages and abilities. The centre has a glass roof which braver visitors can walk across.
The area of South Tyneside, within which Jarrow falls, is largely urban and it is easy to forget that it is on the coast. There are some beautiful sandy beaches and secluded coves where you can have fun and on rare occasions even sunbathe. There are also wonderful trails for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The local people in the area are known for their hospitality which means the area just about has it all. City centres for shopping, beaches for playing, significant historical sites for education and friendly neighbours.
