Sutton Hoo - And More Rain

Another Suffolk place we have been meaning to visit for some time is Sutton Hoo, the famous Anglo-Saxon burial site near Woodbridge - here. The plan was to go on there from Helmingham Hall yesterday, but it was not to be. Instead we made a separate trip today. It's less than an hour from Bury St Edmunds - down the A14 past Ipswich to the A12 (N) and then turn right after Woodbridge onto the A1152 and follow the signs.

It was dry when we set out, but we had hardly got on the A14 before it started to rain, and by the time we got to Sutton Hoo... Well this was our view of the visitor centre when we arrived.

But at least we were able to do some things inside. The exhibition hall brightly informs with a video, children's quiz, lots of storyboards and replicas. (Alas, the real treasure is in the British Museum). Here is the replica of the famous helmet.

There is also a box of dressing up clothes and helmet for the kids to try on. Little W looked quite fierce as a Dark Ages warrior.

It being a Bank Holiday weekend, there was also entertainment from the Ormsgard Dark Ages Theatre. We sat through an interesting talk on The Runes...

It was still raining, so we decided to get some lunch before visiting the burial mounds. No picnic for us today, which is just as well - although there were plenty of picnic tables available.

Instead we ate in the restaurant, before putting our hoods up and heading out on the walk to the burial site.

"Ooh look. It's been snowing", said the Missus. Well no it hadn't, but the cosseted plants in the field next to the walk made it look like it.

We followed the red circular walk around the mounds. Here's one of them.

A good visit, but I can't help agreeing with this Telegraph Article that somehow, especially on a day like today, it would have been more atmospheric without all the modern tourist trappings.