Suffolk’s Royal Anglo-Saxon history on show in new exhibition

It tells the story of an Anglo-Saxon royal settlement in Suffolk, the largest and wealthiest of its time known in England.

On display will be 1,400 year-old artefacts, many never before seen by the public, which help tell the story of Rendlesham’s royal connections and its international importance.

Suffolk County Council’s Archaeological Service is curating the exhibition, to celebrate “Rendlesham Revealed”, a community archaeology project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Two years of excavations at sites in the Deben valley have now been completed, with the final season running this autumn.

Councillor Melanie Vigo di Gallidoro, Suffolk County Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Protected Landscapes and Archaeology, said:

"The world now knows more about Anglo-Saxon life, thanks to the brilliant work undertaken by the Rendlesham Revealed project.

"Hundreds of local volunteers, supported by the council’s Archaeological Service and the academic advisors, have been at the heart of the project and its discoveries. They have unearthed objects that have been buried in Suffolk’s soil for over 1,000 years.

"I’d like to thank the National Trust and Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History, for supporting this exhibition, as well as the many partners, the local landowners and farmers who have allowed access to their land, and National Lottery players, without whom, funding for this project would not have been made possible."

The exhibition will take visitors on a 400-year journey, revealing how the settlement at Rendlesham developed, before moving on to celebrate contributions from today’s local community:

• “Rendlesham Before Sutton Hoo AD 400-570”: the rise of the settlement
• “Royal Rendlesham AD 570-720”: the settlement at its height
• “Rendlesham after Royalty AD 720-800”: the decline of the settlement and the rise of Ipswich
• “Uncovering Rendlesham with the Community”

Some of the objects on display, include:

• High status gold and silver dress accessories, sword fittings and horse harness fittings
• Everyday objects worn and used by the people who lived there, such as buckles and pins, weaving items and pottery
• Metal working debris and unfinished items
• Animal bone as the remains of food preparation and feasting

Laura Howarth, Sutton Hoo’s Archaeology and Engagement Manager said:

"In the rich tapestry of the Anglo-Saxon Deben valley, Sutton Hoo and Rendlesham are often intertwining threads and the recent research from Rendlesham has further enhanced our knowledge and understanding of this landscape and some of the people who called it home.

"As long-standing supporters of the Rendlesham Revealed project, we at National Trust Sutton Hoo are delighted to be the first hosts of this exciting exhibition with objects on loan from Ipswich Museum and Suffolk County Council Archaeological Archives.

"The Rendlesham Revealed is a real celebration of community; both the communities that lived in the area over 1,000 years ago but also the communities of today who helped reveal these stories."

The exhibition opens at Sutton Hoo on 23 March 2023 and will run until 29 October. Entry to the temporary exhibition will be included in the normal admission charge to Sutton Hoo, which is free for National Trust members.

Smaller displays will also be on show at Norwich Castle and the West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village and Museum in 2024.