Wednesday 1 June 2016

Discovering the Magic of Sutton Hoo


Found near Woodbridge, Sutton Hoo is the site of two ancient cemeteries where archaeologists unearthed significant finds dating back to the Anglo Saxon era. Sutton Hoo can be visited for a fun and informative day out with the family, with three main sections to visit on your day out: the Royal
Burial Mounds, an indoor exhibition and the 20th century built Tranmer House.

Sutton Hoo is just a 30 minute drive from our luxury log cabins. Here you can enjoy a day of exciting activities while learning about the ancient history of England. You can round off your visit with a stroll through the countryside following one of the National Trust’s designated walking routes.

The Royal Burial Mounds
This consists of eighteen burial mounds, many of which have been eroded over the centuries. These early burials can be traced back to the seventh century AD, although unfortunately there are no written records of the people who were buried, so there is no way of knowing exactly who they were. Many of the mounds were robbed in the Tudor period; however, two of the mounds remain untouched and loom over the grounds spectacularly.

Mound One, one of the untouched mounds, is the richest burial ever found in northern Europe, and was the grave of a king and his 90ft ship. King Raedwald was said to be buried here, the great King of East Anglia who was heavily criticised for establishing an altar for Christ and an altar for the old gods next to each other. The actual 90ft boat no longer exists and has long since disintegrated into the acidic soil, and now there is only an imprint of where the majestic vessel once lay.
Found under Mound Seventeen was the double burial of a warrior and his horse, surrounded by weapons and everyday items such as combs.

Exhibition
The Exhibition Hall at Sutton Hoo is the perfect place to learn more about the burials and the history behind them. Here you will begin by watching a short film about the era, followed by a tour around the exhibition where you can learn more from information boards.

There is even a reconstruction of the burial chamber which allows you to see how the ritual would have taken place as the king was laid to rest. This also shows how the treasures would have been carefully placed around the king in the ship. Also found in the exhibition are some of the artefacts from Mound Seventeen, where the warrior and his horse were buried, including gold harness pieces and weaponry.

Sutton Hoo hold ‘Out of the Case’ sessions once a month where you can get a closer look at some of their replica treasures, made using the very same skills and tools as the Anglo-Saxon craftsmen.

Tranmer House
Originally named Sutton Hoo House, this beautiful Edwardian home was built in 1910. Soon after it was brought by Edith Pretty, who owned the house when the treasures were unearthed. This warm and aged house looks over the River Deben and the town of Woodbridge, and is the ideal place to discover the story behind the archaeological digs in the 1930s.

With wood panelled interiors, grand marble fireplaces and views across the vast fields outside, you can sit back and enjoy Tranmer House on your visit while history is brought to life around you. Play music on a gramophone, or sit in a chaise lounge reading 1930s magazines to immerse yourself in the past of Tranmer House.

Tranmer House was built with no garden as it was believed that rabbits would destroy it, and part of the house was demolished later on to save heating costs.


Luxury Log Cabins – Click here to view our available log cabins for a short family break away. 

No comments:

Post a Comment