70 BRITAIN http://www.britain-magazine.com
ANCIENT SITES
If you’re feeling energetic and want an uninterrupted
birds-eye view of the burial ground and its surroundings,
then head for the observation tower, opening this autumn.
Designed to sit harmoniously in the landscape, this
17-metre-tall structure has a stairway leading up to viewing
platforms. The climb to the top rewards you with a clear
sense of how impressive a feat it was to move the funereal
ship over such a distance without the aid of machinery.
Sutton Hoo’s rejuvenated exhibition centre has been
rechristened the High Hall as part of the renovation
programme nishing this summer, re ecting the name given
to an Anglo-Saxon ceremonial communal space. Venture
inside and you enter an intentionally subdued atmosphere,
designed to help you depart the modern world and be
transported back to the 7th century.
The Hall has a range of tours, installations and immersive
activities that focus on the lives of individual Anglo-Saxons,
such as a wise woman and shop-keeper, alongside more
about King Raedwald and the wondrous treasures chosen
for his burial. Perhaps the most popular exhibit is the
hand-crafted, intricate replica of the iconic helmet – widely
considered the symbolic face of the Anglo-Saxon period.
Thehomeof SuttonHoo’sformerowner,EdithPretty,
hasundergonea similarlysympatheticrenovationin time
forthesummer.Builtin theearly20thcenturyandoffering
commandingviewsacrosstheriverto Woodbridge,
TranmerHouseis nowthesettingof a newexhibition
recountingthefascinatingstoryof thehistoricdiscoveryand
thepartsplayedbyEdith,archaeologistBasilBrownandhis
teamof volunteers.Thepropertyalsoretainsmanyoriginal
architecturalfeatures,suchasthewood-panelledwallsthat
stillbearthetinyholesmadeduringthegamesof darts
playedbywartimeLandArmygirlswhenbarrackedthere.
It’sanothertantalisingglimpseintothemanystorieswoven
intoSuttonHoo’suniquefabricof warriorsandwars. For more stories about Britain’s ancient sites go to
http://www.britain-magazine.com PHOTOS:© RICHARD MARTIN SCOTT/PHIL MORLEY/NATIONAL TRUST IMAGESTHE PLANNER
GETTING THERE
There are regular trains from
London Liverpool Street, changing at
Ipswich, to Woodbridge and Melton
stations, a journey of roughly 1hr 30min.
Woodbridge is 3 miles from Sutton Hoo;
Melton is just over a mile away.
http://www.thetrainline.comSUTTON HOO
The site is open daily 10am-4pm.
The Myth and Magic Sunset Walk
(14 & 28 September, 11 & 19 October;
booking advisable) allows visitors to
explore Sutton Hoo’s enigmatic landscape
as dusk settles over the Royal Burial Ground.
http://www.nationaltrust.orgA new walking route, the River
View Walk, allows visitors to follow
in the footsteps of the venerable
funeral procession of 1400 years ago
From top to bottom:
A replica of the ship
greets visitors to the
site; a reenactment
of the ship-carrying
procession