Recreating the past for live events, TV and film
Sutton Hoo through the ages
Late Roman, Dark Age, Norman and WWII living history & displays
A multi-period living history weekend at
Sutton Hoo, Suffolk
Tourism in Suffolk Awards 2007 winner: Best Large Attraction and finalist, Sustainable Tourism
Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3DJ. Telephone: 01394 389700.
Our
second weekend of mini multi-era displays and entertainments at world famous
Sutton Hoo,
staged on behalf of the
National Trust,
following the success of our
2007 event, now expanded with more
performers including recreated 1940s Home Guard.
Visitors can enjoy living history, combat and have a go activities designed to place this fascinating Dark Age burial site within its historical context. Meet C5th Romans and early Germanic invaders, King Raedwald and his C7th warriors, C8th-11 Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, but beware of the C11th Norman conquerors - far more interested in carving out their new kingdom with the sword and extorting taxes than looking back to Sutton Hoo's glory days as a royal burial ground. Then leap forward in time to the dark days of 1940, as the Home Guard prepare for expected Nazi invasion.
There's a great line up of around 100 top living history performers - Ancient Wisdom, Angelcynn, Britannia, Civil Defenders, Hands on History, Paul Mortimer and Ulfhednar England, The Household, Ormsgard!, Ousekjarr, Weorod and Wulfingas. A number of interesting historical traders will also be present, selling a variety of fascinating historical reproductions and craft items. Plus have a go archery with Fairbow, (a small fee applies).
Living history groups and other performers interested in taking part in our events are invited to contact us for further details and click the link for our Standard terms and conditions for participation.
For a flavour of things to come, click for some photographs of last year's event.
|
Time |
Activity/display |
Performer(s) |
|
10am |
Living history opens |
Various |
|
11 |
Invasions and migrations, an interactive display |
Ancient Wisdom |
|
|
Twilight of Empire |
Britannia |
|
|
Meet the Expert and handle replica Sutton Hoo treasures |
Angus Wainwright |
|
11.30 |
King Raedwald’s warriors |
Paul Mortimer, with Ulfhednar England and Weorod |
|
|
Find out all about runes |
Ormsgard! |
|
|
Mini tour of the burial mounds |
The Sutton Hoo Society |
|
12 |
Saxons and Vikings |
Ousekjarr |
|
|
Early Saxon burial rites |
Wulfingas |
|
|
Meet the Expert and handle replica Sutton Hoo treasures |
Angus Wainwright |
|
|
A brief talk about the life of Edith Pretty, instigator of the famous 1939 excavation |
Mary Skelcher |
|
12.30pm |
The Normans |
The Household |
|
|
Anglo-Saxon food talk and demonstration |
Ormsgard! |
|
|
Mini tour of the burial mounds |
The Sutton Hoo Society |
|
1 |
Invasions and migrations |
Ancient Wisdom |
|
|
Home Guard training |
The Civil Defenders |
|
|
Storytelling |
Ormsgard! |
|
1.30 |
Twilight of Empire |
Britannia |
|
|
Mini tour of the burial mounds |
The Sutton Hoo Society |
|
|
A talk about Basil Brown, discoverer of the Sutton Hoo treasure |
Chris Durrant |
|
2 |
King Raedwald’s warriors |
Paul Mortimer, with Ulfhednar England and Ormsgard! |
|
|
Early Saxon burial rites |
Wulfingas |
|
|
Storytelling |
Ousekjarr |
|
2.30 |
Archery |
Ousekjarr |
|
|
Mini tour of the burial mounds, especially for families |
The Sutton Hoo Society |
|
|
Meet the Expert and handle replica Sutton Hoo treasures |
Angus Wainwright |
|
|
A brief talk about the life of Edith Pretty, instigator of the famous 1939 excavation |
Mary Skelcher |
|
3 |
Invasions and migrations |
Ancient Wisdom |
|
|
The Normans |
The Household |
|
|
Spear drill, combat & dance |
Ormsgard! |
|
3.30 |
Home Guard training |
The Civil Defenders |
|
|
Meet the Expert and handle replica Sutton Hoo treasures |
Angus Wainwright |
|
|
A talk about Basil Brown, discoverer of the Sutton Hoo treasure |
Chris Durrant |
|
4 |
Warriors through the ages |
Various groups |
|
|
Early Saxon burial rites |
Wulfingas |
|
|
Mini tour of the burial mounds |
The Sutton Hoo Society |
|
4.30 |
End of timed activities, living history continues |
Various |
|
5 |
Living history & event close |
All |
Ongoing activities:
In addition to the timed displays above, don’t miss ongoingd living history displays from most of the above groups plus:
|
Activity |
Performer(s) |
|
Living history |
Various groups |
|
Secondary arena |
Various groups |
|
Saxon Scriptorium |
Hands on History |
|
Historical traders/beer tent |
Various |
|
Children’s activities |
The National Trust |
|
Accordion player |
Des Tighe |
|
Have a go archery* |
Fairbow |
|
Face painting* |
Shirley Osborne |
|
Information and membership |
The National Trust |
* Small charge applies.
Admission prices
Adult £10 Adult Non-member, £4 Adult
NT Member
Child £5 Child Non-member, £2.50 Child NT Member
Family £25 Family Non-members, £10.50 Family NT Members
With the event offering excellent value for money for National Trust members, this will be an excellent reason for non-member visitors to join, save money, and in doing so assist this worthy organisation in its objectives.
One pitch left, due to an unavoidable cancellation
. Pitches are limited and as usual preference will be given to traders who utilise period tents or otherwise attractively presented stands.Please click for further details of trading opportunities at this and other EventPlan events.
Important Health and Safety information – please note
For your safety and that of others, always follow these simple rules on site:
In the unlikely event of an emergency, please stay calm and follow instructions given over the public address system and by stewards.
Historical displays can be dangerous! Do not cross tape barriers!
All children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Take care not to trip, slip or fall on site. Beware of slopes and tent guy lines.
Keep clear of camp fires. These are real and often cooking hot food. Don’t touch!
Do not - and do not let your children - pick anything up in the living history areas unless specifically invited to do so by the re-enactors. The weapons and cooking knives are real and can be dangerous in untrained hands!
Please beware of moving vehicles in the car parking area.
Visiting
Sutton Hoo
View the National Trust's
web pages about Sutton Hoo, one of the most important archaeological sites in this country and often described as "Page one of English History". On a spur of land overlooking the River Debden, one of several large mounds was excavated in 1939, revealing the now famous treasures including a warrior's helmet, shield and gold ornaments in the remains of a burial chamber of a 90 foot ship. The exhibition hall houses a full-size reconstruction of the burial chamber and tells the story of how its treasures lay undisturbed for over 1,300 years. The burial mounds form part of the 245 acre estate. The site walks include estuary views, heathland and woodland trails. Cafe/Resturant on site.How to get there
By road
Bus services
By train
Ordnance survey reference
A brief history of re-enactment
Interested in how and why re-enactment has become so popular in recent years? Click on the link to read a history of re-enactment.
Other events 2008
Click here for details of many other historical events organised by EventPlan during 2008.
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Updated 5 August 2008