Q WAS the Venerable Bede born at Jarrow or Sunderland and was Sunderland part of Jarrow? Also, what is the oldest part of Sunderland? - Bill Hutchinson, Chester-le-Street

AIN 674 AD, the year of Bede's birth, a well-travelled Northumbrian noble called Benedict Biscop established a monastery dedicated to St Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland.

The land had been granted by Ecgfrith, the King of Northumbria.

Later in 681 AD, Biscop founded a second monastery at Jarrow dedicated to St Paul. The two monasteries were regarded as one monastery on two sites and thus land belonging to Monkwearmouth also belonged to Jarrow. Such land included Sunderland.

Monkwearmouth, to the north of the Wear, is the most historic part of Wearside, but the original Sunderland was south of the river. This was the 'Sundered Land' detached from the monastic lands to the north.

Although the area first known as Sunderland lay to the south of the river there is yet another place to consider.

The area to the south of the river at the western end of the High Street was originally known as South Wearmouth and later Bishopwearmouth. It was located at the very western end of Sunderland Lonnin or High Street West as it is known today.

The original Sunderland was located in and around High Street East and the church of Holy Trinity. It included the present streets of Church Street and Silver Street as well as the High Street itself.

It was much closer to the river than Bishopwearmouth and also much closer to the sea. The Venerable Bede described Sunderland as the place of his birth and it is likely that he was born somewhere in this neighbourhood.

Indeed it is this part of the original Sunderland that looks directly across to the ancient church of St Peter at Monkwearmouth. This church is of course all that remains of Biscop's ancient monastery.

By 1835 Bishopwearmouth and Monkwearmouth were all incorporated into the Municipal Borough of Sunderland and Sunderland continued to grow, mostly southwards.

If you have a Burning Question, or can improve on any of the answers above, please write to Burning Questions, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF or e-mail David.Simpson@nne.co.uk

Published:10/03/2003