Step back in time and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Anglo-Saxon life at Jarrow Hall’s unique Living History Farm. Delve into the time of Bede as you wander through our meticulously recreated Anglo-Saxon Village. Meet heritage animals, explore experimental buildings, and embrace the life of the Anglo-Saxons. Plan your unforgettable journey now!
Meet The Animals!
Cheviot Goats (Gat):
Our Cheviot goats are examples of the Neolithic goats that live wild in Northumberland and pre-date modern domestic goats. Cheviot goats are smaller in stature than modern goats with long shaggy coats, used to help them survive the harsh winters when most domestic livestock would be taken in from the hills. Our herd are a mix of orphans taken in as rescues and wild goats taken in as part of a cull to control numbers.
Iron Age Pigs (Swyn):
The Iron Age pigs are a cross between Tamworth and Wild Boar and are a more accurate representation of the pigs that Anglo-Saxon villagers would have been familiar with. Pigs were left semi-feral and allowed to forage for themselves in the forests and woodlands.
Dexter Bullocks (Oxa):
Dexters are a small hardy breed native to Ireland. These cattle would not have been kept primarily as a food source but would have been used as draft animal and would have been the Anglo-Saxon tractors of their day, ploughing the fields and pulling carts.
Primitive Sheep (Sceap):
Our sheep are a mix of native breeds including, Manx Loughtan, Soay, Shetland and Hebridean. The primitive sheep that the Anglo-Saxons would have known would have been smaller and hardier than modern sheep and have shown to have lifespans of almost double their more modern equivalents… Look out for Flynn, our 4 horned Hebridean Ram!
