New museum building

The stunning new museum building, built by architects Evans and Shalev, houses The Age of Bede exhibition, Visitor Reception, the Gift and Bookshop and the pre-pay Temporary Exhibition Gallery.

The building design draws on Roman and early medieval architectural styles, such as those from which Benedict Biscop, the founder of St Paul's monastery, would have drawn inspiration. Benedict Biscop travelled extensively around Europe, making six journeys to Rome in his lifetime, and brought stonemasons from Gaul to build his monasteries "in the Roman style he had always loved so much" (Bede, Lives of the Abbots).

The building has been awarded the South Tyneside Council Good Design Chairman's Award 2002, jointly with the Jarrow Hall refurbishment.