There are also multiple divisions without administrative functions; ceremonial counties , emergency services fire-and-rescue and police , built-up areas and historic counties. The region's historic importance is displayed by Northumberland's ancient castles, the two World Heritage Sites of Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle , [ 4 ] and Hadrian's Wall , [ 5 ] one of the frontiers of the Roman Empire. In fact, Roman archaeology can be found widely across the region and a special exhibition based around the Roman Fort of Segedunum at Wallsend [ 6 ] and the other forts along Hadrian's Wall are complemented by the numerous artifacts that are displayed in the Great North Museum Hancock [ 7 ] in Newcastle.
Peter's Church in Monkwearmouth , Sunderland and St. Pauls in Jarrow also hold significant historical value and have a joint bid to become a World Heritage Site. The area has a strong religious past, as can be seen in works such as the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Bede is regarded as the greatest Anglo-Saxon scholar. He worked at the monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow, translating some forty books on all areas of knowledge, including nature, history, astronomy, poetry and theological matters such as the lives of the saints.
This body of work is thought to have been created in honour of Cuthbert, around — In , the Vikings arrived on the shores of north-east England with a raiding party from Norway who attacked the monastic settlement on Lindisfarne.
A chronicler recorded: "On the 8th June, the harrying of the heathen miserably destroyed God's church by rapine and slaughter. The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria extended from the Scottish borders then Pictish borders at the Firth of Forth to the north, and to the south of York , its capital, down to the Humber. The last independent Northumbrian king from —8 was Eric Bloodaxe , who died at the Battle of Stainmore , Westmorland, in After Eric Bloodaxe's death, all England was ruled by Eadred , the grandson of Alfred the Great ; and so began the machinery of national government.
A local-government reform created ceremonial counties and unitary authorities, allowing districts to govern outside their designated counties. The reform also abolished Cleveland with it split between County Durham and North Yorkshire , the latter county covers parts of two regions since. The region is mostly parished with some remaining unparished areas following the creation of the Cleveland districts, Darlington , Tyne and Wear districts, Derwentside and Wear Valley.
