sutton hoo

The Anglo-Saxon burial ground Sutton Hoo is just across the river from Woodbridge.

The estate alone is worth a visit: the extensive grounds and views over the river are magnificent. Indeed, one member of our tour group seemed far more interested in the birds and wild mushrooms than in the burial mounds!

Our tour was led by a member of the Sutton Hoo Society, who was terribly knowledgeable and entertaining. He recounted the story of Mrs Edith May Pretty, who was fascinated by the rather unnatural mounds on her estate, and Mr Basil Brown, whom she hired to investigate. Mrs Pretty would sit in her deckchair on the edge of a mound, sipping a drink while watching Mr Brown dig:

On our way home, we discovered that our visit coincided with the Radio 4 Women's Hour dramatization of The Dig by John Preston. Perfect timing!