The two maps shown illustrate old Jarrow from the 1850s to the 1910s. Jarrow Bridge formed the southern entrance of the settlement until the construction of a bypass, which can be seen on the 1918 map with the single track tramway.

This used to be a little community in itself. In fact, given the location it's probable the oldest part of Jarrow. In more recent memory though there was a cluster of 18th century buildings here which were a mixture of cottages and an inn. By the 1890s, there was a hotel here as well as a small Sunday school and a boys school. We're going to go in a bit more detail with the latter.

The Bede Church School was opened here in around 1859. It was a national school, meaning the curriculum and teaching was provided by the Church of England to facilitate basic primary education for the poor. They cropped up in most industrial areas as a means to promote some level of literacy and numeracy skills as well as sow the seeds of faith from a young age.

From the outset the setting was cramped. It was a little rectangular building next to the monastery which did grow by the 1890s possibly with an extra room. Speculating here, but with the modernisation of education and the state later providing, I think this became the Sunday school.

There was also another school which appeared by the 1890s, which I think was St Bede's School opened in 1872 and shown in the last shot. It hosted 112 pupils and constantly suffered from shortages as kids were hungry, without shoes and adequate clothing. They were constantly giving out meals and shows to kids, as well as closing due to illness.

All these buildings were cleared by the middle of the 20th century, and now we're left with this mound probably featuring some remnants of these buildings.