Anglo-Saxon burial site to be transformed with aid of lottery grant

ONE OF the UK’s most significant archaeological finds – the Anglo Saxon burial site of Sutton Hoo – is to be transformed with the help of a £1.8m lottery grant.

The site near Woodbridge, Suffolk, home to a series of burial mounds including the ship burial of Anglo-Saxon King Raedwald, has revealed an “incredibly significant treasure trove” of finds since it was first discovered in 1939.

The National Trust, which has managed Sutton Hoo since 1998, has now secured a £1.8m National Lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards its £4m scheme to transform the experience for visitors to the site.

Plans include a 56ft observation tower to give views over the entire site and to the River Deben, from where the Anglo-Saxon ship was hauled up to form the burial chamber found in 1939 by Suffolk archaeologist Basil Brown.

A new route around the site will allow visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Anglo Saxons, the National Trust said.

And a new exhibition at Tranmer House, the home of Edith Pretty who instigated the dig that would lead to the discoveries, will explore the timeline of discoveries and the ongoing research at the site and other locations.

Finds from the excavations, which include the famous Anglo Saxon Sutton Hoo helmet dating from the early seventh century, were given to the British Museum by Edith Pretty.

Allison Girling, property operations manager at Sutton Hoo, said: “There are so many stories to tell at Sutton Hoo.”