Historic Sunderland Excavations at St Peter's Church

Discover the remarkable Historic Sunderland Excavations at St Peter’s Church and its ancient monastery in this local heritage video, exploring the early foundations of Historic Sunderland. These excavations revealed one of Europe’s most significant early monastic sites, a place forever linked with the life and work of the Venerable Bede, also known as Saint Bede. The Cramp Excavations (1959–1969) Between 1959 and 1969, a pioneering archaeological investigation was conducted at St Peter’s Church under the leadership of Professor Dame Rosemary Cramp. This decade-long project saw teams of archaeologists and volunteers meticulously uncover the remains of a vast religious and learning complex dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries. The "Monkwearmouth-Jarrow" twin monastery was founded in AD 674 by the Northumbrian nobleman Benedict Biscop. By the 8th century, it had grown into a thriving community of over 600 monks, becoming a world-renowned centre for culture and scholarship. Significant Archaeological Finds The excavations provided the first clear view of the original 7th-century settlement. Key discoveries included: • The Long Gallery: One of the most striking features was a stone walkway at least 32 metres long. This covered passage likely connected the church to other monastic buildings, physically separating the monks' burial grounds from the lay cemetery. • Early Masonry & Glass: Researchers found evidence of advanced stone construction and the greatest quantity of 7th to 8th-century coloured window glass discovered on any comparable site in Europe. These crafts were imported from Gaul (modern-day France) by Benedict Biscop to build in the "Roman manner". • The Scriptorium: The monastery was famous for its library and scriptorium, where Saint Bede and his fellow monks produced monumental works like the Codex Amiatinus, the earliest surviving complete Latin Bible. A Legacy for Sunderland For those living in Sunderland or interested in Sunderland History, the site remains a vital link to the city's past. Today, visitors can see the original Anglo-Saxon west wall and porch—some of the oldest surviving stone church architecture in Britain. A new landscape "footprint" now marks the original size of the monastery, allowing everyone to appreciate the scale of this local heritage without disturbing the protected archaeology beneath. This site is a cornerstone of heritage tourism in the North East, preserving the memory of a golden age of learning and the birth of Historic Sunderland. What is our heritage Founded in 1900, the Sunderland Antiquarian Society is the UK’s largest local history group, serving as the primary custodian of historic Sunderland local heritage. Its core purpose is to advance public education regarding the local history and heritage of Sunderland and its surrounding areas. The society functions as a heritage information hub, maintaining a huge amount of old photo collections, newspapers, and artefacts at its local heritage centre, facilitating historical research for both members and the general public, offering access to rare local heritage documents such as shipyard records and family history. Beyond preservation, the society actively promotes local history and heritage through a regular programme of a local history presentation, illustrated talks, exhibitions, and various publications. It essentially acts as a heritage information hub as well as a local history group for the community to explore and celebrate local history and heritage of the rich industrial and social past of Wearside. If you recognise a place, remember a story, or have your own memories to share, please leave a comment — your voice helps keep our shared heritage alive. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* WATCH NEXT: A Century in Sunderland Local Heritage Part 4 of 4    • A Century in Sunderland Local Heritage Par...   1970s History of Sunderland Hidden Heritage Photos    • 1970s History of Sunderland Hidden Heritag...   ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Please tell your friends about our YouTube channel, just give them this link;    / @sunderlandantiquariansociety   Our Facebook site; #facebook.com/SunderlandAntiquarianSociety Our website; https://www.sunderland-antiquarians.org/ Thank you for watching Historic Sunderland Excavations at St Peter's Church— and welcome to the ever-growing heritage information hub of the Sunderland Antiquarian Society local heritage centre working hard to share local history and heritage online.