Woodbridge; Sutton Hoo and The Longshed

We drive to Woodbridge en route home to visit the National Trust owned site of Sutton Hoo, where there is an Anglo-Saxon Cemetery dating from the 6th - 7th century. There was a ship burial here containing many Anglo-Saxon artefacts; an imprint of a spectacular 88 feet long rowing ship was found and is currently being reconstructed (see later, The Longshed). It is particularly significant because the person likely to have been buried on the rowing ship was Raedwald, the King of the East Angles.

The site, discovered in 1939, was on the land of Tranmer House, the home of Edith Pretty, and has been described as "one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time." Although Edith Pretty was declared the owner of the treasures discovered there, she donated it all to the British Museum, and excavation work has been carried out here ever since.

We visit the Royal Burial Ground to see the various mounds there and then walk in the River View area before visiting Tranmer House to learn about Edith Pretty and the excavation work. We then visit the High Hall exhibition area to view replicas of some of the items found in the Great Burial Mound (originals are in the British Museum).

We then drive to the other side of the River Debden to the town of Woodbridge itself to visit The Longshed (built on the site of the former Whissocks Boatyard) to see the Sutton Hoo ship reconstruction. Here, the Anglo-Saxon ship is being rebuilt using authentic ship-building methods, and once complete, it will be launched back onto the River Debden to explore the rivers and coastal waters locally.

It has been an excellent day out before we drive back home.Read more