In 1984 I was asked by the Curator of the Bede Monastery Museum at Jarrow Hall to create a mural for the small restaurant there. I decided to look back to the 7th century for the subject matter.

Jarrow, or Gyrwe as it was known in Anglo-Saxon times, must have been a fascinating little place. The Anglo-Saxon monastery of St Paul's, Jarrow, was founded in 681 AD and St Paul’s Church dedicated in 685 AD. The original dedication stone can still be seen in the church.

The Venerable Bede entered the monastery around that time, aged seven, and remained there until his death in 735 AD. He is now know as “The Father of English History” and is renowned worldwide for his writings, particularly The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. It’s amazing to think that this book is still in print over 1300 years later.

Jarrow was one of the great centres of learning in those days. In the archaeological excavations carried out in the 1970’s, fine stone carvings and coloured glass were found. This indicates that the monastery had great art and architecture within its walls and probably fine textiles and great collections of books, all brought there by its founder, Benedict Biscop and his successor Ceolfrith.

To paint this 8’x12’ mural, I imagined myself standing under the trees, watching the closing of a typical day at the monastery in 684 AD. This photograph is all that now remains of the mural, but I have fond memories of painting it.