Sutton Hoo - Part One

We finally got to see Sutton Hoo,  Anglo Saxon Royal burial ground, after years of wanting to visit.  It was a lovely day, sunny and dry which was good as there are lots of walks around the site.  

After parking the car we decided to have coffee before looking around following the maps we had been given at the visitor welcome point.  I also bought the guide book above.

 

We decided to walk to the burial mounds first.  It was here in 1939 on the eve of war that the remains of an ancient ship were found.  The excavation happened because the owner of the site  Edith Pretty recruited a local self taught archaeologist, Basil Brown, to investigate the various mounds on her property.  The finds of both ship and grave goods came as a complete surprise to both of them. 

Of course there is far more to this fascinating story which you learn as you go round the site.  Basil Brown was joined by William Spooner, gamekeeper, John Jacobs, gardener and Bert Fuller, labourer before staff from Ipswich Museum got involved and then archaeologists from further afield.

The burial mounds can be seen from the viewing tower and there are guided tours around the site so you can see more closely from ground level.

From the burial ground we walked through the wooded area and across the rabbit fields towards Tranmer House which was the home of Edith Pretty.

 

Apparently you can rent a holiday appartment in the house through the National Trust.  That would prove interesting.

The sitting room with window overlooking the burial mounds in the distance.

In one of the rooms there were films and photos from the excavations that have taken place over the years.

The ship in situ when it was found.

 

From the house we decided to try out the new King's River walk down to the River Deben.  It was from this river that the boat, probably containing the body of a person of status locally, would have been dragged towards its burial place.

Many people think that the body was that of Raedwald, King of East Anglia who died around  625AD/CE.

I'll be back with more of that walk and the views across the River Deben towards Woodbridge where we will visit and find the building of a replica of the Sutton Hoo ship in The Long Shed.

 

 

I'm having problems with blogger at the moment and I know one or two of you are too.  I can't leave comments on some of your blogs however I try also there are one or two blogs I'd like to add to my sidebar which I can't seem to do.  I hope things are put right soon.  Meanwhile I will keep trying.

 

Back Home

 We are back home from our short break.  Below are a few photos of some of the places we visited.  

 

I'll write more on each place later.  Now I'm off to catch up with what you have all been doing in the last few days.

Autumn in the Air

As we drove out along the lanes yesterday the maize was high in the fields and swaying slightly in the light breeze.  The hedges were covered in Bindweed, I've never seen so many flowers as this year.  It's a flower I always associate with the turn of the seasons and the loss of summer.  Hips and haws  turn other hedges a deep shade of red.  Blackberries and Elderberries are a rich and attractive colour and again there seems to be an abundance of them this season.  Leaves are dropping from the trees and scattering across the lawn, just a few each day for now.

White Echinaceas at Bridgemere

 

I'm still here although I've been quiet for a few weeks.  I'm still trying to visit your blogs even if I'm not writing much on mine.   Inspiration will hopefully soon be restored as we are off on a little adventure in a few days time.  Not too far and not for too long but it will be good to see new things and lift the spirits.  I'm also meeting up with a cousin I hadn't heard from for a few years, it's good to know she is still around at ninety two years old.

All for now.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers at Barlow, Derbyshire.  

On Wednesday we drove through Derbyshire to visit a friend who lives in Holmesfield and spent a lovely hour wandering around the sunflower fields in the nearby village of Barlow.

The bright colour of the flowers contrasted with the dull grey skies above.  Amongst the flowers, which at times towered over us, we felt a protective warmth and peacefulness.  The heat and scent was amazing. The bees were buzzing around the flowers but we didn't see many butterflies.  Although later, after lunch, we saw quite a few as we walked around the woods in Holmesfield.

The farmer was busy in an adjacent field bailing hay.

 

(Paul's photo of the wild flowers)

 

The wild flower field was still looking lovely although by this time of year not at its best.  It must have looked wonderful a few weeks ago.

 

(Paul's photo)

All for now.  Take care and have a lovely weekend.

A History Day

Yesterday's weather was perfect.  Friends came to visit and after a lunch of home made vegetable lasagne and raspberry cheesecake we set off to Ford Green Hall.  

The hall was hosting an open day for the Old Nortonian Society, a local history society which promotes the interest of local and family history in the village and parish of Norton-in-the-Moors.  

The society's wonderful collection of  photographs were on display throughout the hall and there were some fascinating images as well as information about them and also interesting recollections to be overheard as we wandered around.

 

After a good look around the house and garden we had a leisurely walk around the lake at the nature reserve which is close by.

The hall, as always was a pleasure to walk around and there were lots of fascinating items to see.  Photos below of the things that caught my eye.   I took photos of quiet corners and smaller objects as there were quite a few people looking at the photo displays and I didn't want to intrude on them.

 

Ford Green Hall was built in 1624 for yeoman dairy farmer Hugh Ford, owner of 36 acres of land in the area.  The  family lived at the hall for over 200 years.  After the Ford family left the Hall it was divided into three and later four cottages.  The building was purchased by Stoke City Council in 1946 and opened as a museum in 1952.  Following budget cutbacks in 2011 the hall was faced with closure but in 2014 its management was passed to Ford Green Hall Ltd a charitable organisation led by volunteers.  

In and around the garden

Although the plants need rain some of them also need sun, especially the tomatoes and plums.  We've had a few tomatoes from the greenhouse but they still need to ripen more.  The 'spares' which have been left outside are still green.

There are three varieties of tomatoes above - Santa Mama, Gardener's Delight and Roma.  There was also a small crop of French beans.

The plum tree has lots of plums this year and one or two look as if they are going to ripen, perhaps next week we will have a little more sun to help them.

Potatoes haven't done as well as hoped the crop below are a variety called Acoustic

Lots of flowers in the garden at the moment although they are being battered by the wind and rain.

There were a few sunnier late afternoons and evenings this week and bees and butterflies appeared later in the day.

One afternoon I was visited by a Comma butterfly.   It settled on my back.

It flew away after a short while but then it returned and settled on my shoulder.  Perhaps it  liked the colour of my blouse or perhaps I was standing in the sun and it wanted to be where it was warm.  Perhaps I was a handy stop along its flight path.

 

On a recent walk I spotted a dragonfly on the ground in front of me. Luckily I had my camera ready so I was able to take a photo before it flew further down the path and then skimmed back over the lake.

 

Is it a Black-tailed skimmer?  I know one or two of you are more knowlegable about wildlife than I am so please let me know if I am wrong. I got the ID from a Wildlife Trust site.

 

All for now.