SUTTON HOO REGENERATED

England’s most famous Anglo-saxon archaeological site has been given substantial funding for an ambitious reinterpretation project

Sutton Hoo is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in British history. In 1938, a local landowner called Edith Pretty called in archaeologist Basil Brown to investigate a series of mysterious mounds on her estate near Woodbridge, Suffolk. The subsequent excavation uncovered a 1,300 year-old ship burial of a man believed to the 7th century Anglo-saxon King Raedwald of East Anglia. Priceless treasures were uncovered that included his gold belt buckle, sword, shield, and – most famously – an iconic helmet.

These discoveries revolutionised historians’ understanding of the 7th century and revealed a cultured and sophisticated period that was far removed from the Dark Ages. The extraordinary story is now being retold in a bold £4 million reinterpretation project at Sutton Hoo Visitor Centre, which is run by the National Trust. This includes a grant of £1.8 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to offer new installations, immersive experiences and routes through the local landscape.

Visitors will be greeted in the Courtyard with a full-size, 27-metre long sculpture representing the burial ship, while the Exhibition Hall and Edith Pretty’s former home at Tranmer House will be completely transformed. There will also be a new route to reconnect the stories and people associated with the ship and the Royal Burial Ground. Tranmer House will focus on the excavations of 1939 as Pretty and Brown’s team raced to dig as much as they could before WWII broke out. The house will contain recorded interviews, vintage projections, documents and even the first ship’s rivet that Brown unearthed. Meanwhile, the exhibition hall will showcase dramatic new replicas of treasures that are now housed in the British Museum. Original pieces from later digs will be displayed, including a 1991 excavation that uncovered a warrior and his horse alongside a sword, comb and bowls.

The hall will also offer a window on the Anglo-saxon world through film, sound and displays to explore their culture, rituals and craftsmanship. The final part of the project in late Autumn 2019 will be the construction of a 17-foot high observation tower, which will offer bird’s-eye views across the Royal Burial Ground and wider landscape.

Laura Howarth, archaeology and engagement manager at Sutton Hoo, explains, “The significance of the Anglo-saxons at Sutton Hoo continues to resonate today through our language, law, culture and connections to the landscape. We wanted to create an experience which really does justice to this incredibly important heritage site and we hope our transformation will fire the imaginations of our visitors and help them feel a part of this story.”