Son and Daughter in Law found an online voucher for free admission to a National Trust property for October and they hadn't been to Sutton Hoo for many years and I'd not been since they built the viewing tower and refurbished the displays in the main building so we all went together. Including youngest granddaughter and middle grandson of course.
Sutton Hoo is all about a ship burial containing an important man from the Anglo-Saxon period and his treasures - thought to be King Rædwald - and hidden beneath a mound in the 7th Century, rediscovered properly in 1939 and made even more famous recently with the film The Dig (wiki info HERE).
This is what I wanted to see .........the relatively new viewing tower. 81 steps up to see the view over the burial mounds - sorry the sun was wrong for this photo.
Below are the remains of the burial mounds. Much flatter than they would have been originally. The one with the rope around is the main ship burial.
(The dozens of little metal huts in the distance are for outdoor pig production - very big area for this all along the light land of the Suffolk coast)
This sculpture of the skeleton ribs below shows the size of this boat, must have been hard work dragging it uphill from the river and then burying.
Thank you so much for this! I have always wanted to visit Sutton Hoo but the closest I've managed is the exhibition in the British Museum. Lovely photos of the site. Made my day!
ReplyDeleteAlways seems unfair that the British Museum gets all the real stuff!
DeleteMrs Pretty donated the things to them, feeling that the treasure was something that all should be able to see, a generous offer since she had to battle for ownership of the items to begin with.
DeleteI do have a question though: I see a number of what appear to be mounds. Are they burial mounds as well, or are they all connected to the original burial site?
I found myself quite emotional to see the Sutton Hoo treasure with my own eyes. It sounds very silly, but I had vivid memories of fascinated reading on the topic in the National Geographic as a child. I just wanted so badly to see the big old world. 50+ years later, I was finally doing that.
Ignore the question. As so often happens, your blog posts send me off to do some additional reading. I answered my own question! Honestly. The things that I learn from blogs! I would really love to see this place one day!
DeleteOh thanks, Sue. I keep thinking "I really must visit" but haven't got there yet. The pictures are super
ReplyDeleteIt's worth a trip - pick a fine day!
DeleteI love Sutton Hoo. The viewing tower is a huge improvement - you can see everything so much better now.
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I've been wanting to get there since they put the tower up but then there was Covid. I'm making good use of my one year membership
DeleteIt was an extraordinary feat of strength and determination to bury the ship. The overview of the burial mounds gives a good impression of the scale of the area.
ReplyDeleteStanding under the sculpture the size of the boat is incredible and it's a long way up from the river.
DeleteI have been a couple of times, the weather always bitter. But it is good to see the viewing platform, and I see the pigs are still in residence. The exhibition itself is excellent, so will look forward to your inside photos.
ReplyDeleteThere's always pigs somewhere down the sandy heathlands around here
DeleteVery interesting place to visit, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome
DeleteWhat a great outing. Have you seen the film The Dig? I enjoyed it for the scenery, then my daughter sent me a link for a very funny parody. I can't find it anywhere now; maybe it was just on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI've still not got round to seeing The Dig but having grown up in Suffolk the whole story is so well known that I'm not bothered about seeing it
DeleteOne of the places I would love to visit so thank you for sharing your visit and the views from the tower. Catriona
ReplyDeleteHope you will get there sometime
DeleteIt is really well done. We deliberately went on a wet day because less people visit! Arilx
ReplyDeleteIt's full of school children in term time and crowded with families at weekends!
DeleteI loved watching The Dig. It's definitely somewhere I would like to visit. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHope you get across here to visit in the future
DeleteI've never been there but now , thanks to you, I feel I have!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
More tomorrow!
DeleteYour post brought back lovely memories, we stayed a couple of nights at Woodbridge to see Sutton Hoo, I had wanted to see the site since seeing exhibits at the British Museum including the magnificent Raedwalds helmet. I still count it as one of the best experiences. Jean in Winnipeg.
ReplyDeleteIts a good place to visit now there is more to see and do
DeleteGreat photos, glad you managed to visit whilst the weather is still good. I really enjoyed our visit there in September. We climbed up the tower and the view of both burial mounds and pig farm beyond was wonderful. I'd love to go back one day:)
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky to live near enough to have been a few times to see the changes the NT make
DeleteWhat a find! You had a nice day to visit
ReplyDeleteCathy
Bit of a chilly wind but a nice day out
DeleteFascinating read. The Pretty woman was wise to insist on knowing more about her property. The burial grounds are amazing and the ships unearthed held many treasures of historical importance. The views from the tower must be outstanding. The land is quite beautiful with lovely vistas out to the river. Your day touring with family sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteNice to have a trip out with grandchildren sometimes even if it means you don't always get to look at everything properly!
DeleteThe Dig was a terrific film and I'm glad you have showed me the real thing now, Sue. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI expect I'll have to watch the film sometime.
DeleteMore about everything tomorrow
Thank you for sharing your tour. I love The Dig and read the book. I had not been aware of the significance of the hoard.
ReplyDeleteBonnie in Minneapolis
I'll look forward to that. I've been interested in Sutton Hoo ever since I saw the film about it on Netflix with Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes. (The Dig) It's a good film and very interesting about the history and people and all. I'll look forward to the next post.
ReplyDeleteWow, pulling that ship up to bury would have been a big job. Looking forward to your next post about Sutton Hoo.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
For some reason I have only ever been there in the rain. One day I will go and it will be sunny. I am so glad they've acquired more land. Thanks for both of your posts on this subject.
ReplyDeleteI really need to go there!
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