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Environmental clean-up could unearth history

Construction work on the final phase of an £8m, six-year environmental clean-up of the River Wear and Sunderland coast could shed more light on the history of a site of world importance.

Northumbrian Water is about to start upgrade work in the corner of St Peter’s church yard in Sunderland, the former monastic home of the Venerable Bede.

The scheme at St Peter’s, which will complete the water company’s current environmental improvement work in the Sunderland area, has been meticulously planned over the last two years to ensure there will be no detrimental impact on the historic site.

Archaeologists from Durham University will monitor the work at St Peter’s at every stage - and there will also be an additional interpretive bonus for the Anglo-Saxon monastery site. David Groark, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, said: “Our environmental improvement work at this scheduled ancient monument has been left till last and very carefully planned and approved. It could itself play a part in plotting the history if it uncovers further secrets of the story of St Peter’s.

“Although it could be of huge importance if something historic is unearthed, part of the site has been previously disturbed in the 1970s which would make a significant find more surprising. We are, however, also breaking ‘new ground’ so we could make a discovery.”

The £650,000 work at St Peter’s, which begins next week, is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. St Peter’s, together with St Paul’s in Jarrow, will be nominated for World Heritage Site Status by the UK Government in 2010.

Local people are being asked to show their support for the bid by signing a Book of Life, available at the St Peter’s, the National Glass Centre, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Bede’s World and St Paul’s Church or by logging on www.wearmouth-jarrow.org.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .