Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No Bad language or derogatory remarks Please or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.

A little bit of Jarrow History

Posted by Norman on 19/1/2026, 3:37 pm

A.D.1782 There was found in Jarrow Church a relic consisting of two stones with an inscription worked on them. The inscription is thus read by Brand "The dedication of the church of St. Paul on the 9th of the Kalends of May in the 15th year of King Egfrid and the 4th of Ceolfrid Abbot and under God the founder of the said church. This interesting monument has been preserved and is now in the arch of the tower between the chancel and the nave. One of the bells of the church is remarkable. It is marked with two fleur de Lys and inscribed in large characters "Sanete Paule ard Pro Nobis". Brand supposes

The bell to have been placed in the monastery at its first foundation, "to have survived all change of times and to have escaped all transmutation of metals" There is also a claim that Jarrow has the honour of having been a Roman Station, fort and village. This was ascertained from two Roman inscriptions found during the rebuilding of the church. But the proof of Jarrow having been a Roman fort does not rest entirely upon the ancient monuments, for when the road was altered north of Jarrow row two square pavements of Roman brick were discovered and the whole site of the church and monastery abounds in foundations of Roman masonry. The Roman fort is supposed to have been made by the Roman General Agricola who erected a chain of forts from the mouth of the Tyne to Solway Firth in the year A.D.81. The Emperor Hadrian visited Britain in person and caused an earthen rampart to be made for the purpose of joining Agricolas forts together from Wallsend to Carlisle in the year A.D.121 as from one of the monuments found it. Was possibly a votive tribute to all the adopted sons of Hadrian. After having ruled and occupied Britain for upwards of 400 years the Romans finally took their departure from Britain about the year A.D.446.

Re: A little bit of Jarrow History

Posted by Stan Wears on 19/1/2026, 8:36 pm, in reply to "A little bit of Jarrow History"

Jimmy Guy the verger and myself can confirm that the Roman lookout station was on the site of the old hall where it was easy to see Arbeia for in South Shields. There are also roman artifacts in St.Pauls church. Newcastle University has had ground penetrative radar below the present nave, detecting 3 concrete sealed rooms and I have a copy of that in my files. What they hold within is not possible because exhumation orders would be required to lift the church floor...interesting!

Re: A little bit of Jarrow History

Posted by Mac Hardy on 20/1/2026, 8:54 am, in reply to "Re: A little bit of Jarrow History"

Stan,

How is Jimmy, an old friend of mine, I heard a while ago that he was not well, if you see him would you pass on my regards.

Photo and plan of crypt off Stan

Posted by Norman on 20/1/2026, 9:43 am, in reply to "Re: A little bit of Jarrow History"

Sent by Stan to show the Roman tablet & also a plan of what radar found beneath the floor at St Paul's ancient Church in Jarrow

Re: Photo and plan of crypt off Stan

Posted by Stan Wears on 20/1/2026, 10:12 am, in reply to "Photo and plan of crypt off Stan"

Mac I'm in constant contact with Jimmy so I will later this morning. His wife Margaret is also ill so he is leaving the rearch to me. Thank you Norman for putting the photos on. The gpr scans are quite complicated and it took months to produce a 3d version.

Re: Photo and plan of crypt off Stan

Posted by Patrick Brennan on 20/1/2026, 12:16 pm, in reply to "Photo and plan of crypt off Stan"

This is the dedication stone; the one in the previous photograph looks to be dated 1782, which is when the discovery was made.

Re: Photo and plan of crypt off Stan

Posted by Stan Wears on 20/1/2026, 12:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Photo and plan of crypt off Stan"

Patrick you are right. We've found all sorts of things in and out of the church. The entire building is a mystery at times. They say St. Bede is buried in Durham Cathedral but I have my doubts despite carbon dating etc. What we cannot get at is who is buried inside those 3 concrete rooms. At first we thought it could be monks, but now I think the lot should be x-rayed. We also bear in mind that the romans did make concrete and that opens up a new world to us. Having taken levels inside the church, on the top altar step are 3 graves, only 9" under the floor! The place is a haven of mystery.

Re: Photo and plan of crypt off Stan

Posted by Stan Wears on 20/1/2026, 1:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Photo and plan of crypt off Stan"

Even a scraping off the concrete would tell us who made them. The romans used a lime based material and the monks used a lesser proportion so it would be easy to establish the origin. There are no signs of entry anywhere so we gather it came via an apse behind the altar. Jimmy and I have 3d pictures of the church showing every stone, which has been dated and where it was hewn. The only problem doing such research on churches is becomes addictive and we tend to go too far at times.

« Back to index