The Sutton Hoo Ships Company; Anglo-Saxon Ship Reconstruction

Building a replica of the Sutton Hoo royal burial ship

The construction of the replica ship is one of many facilitated by Woodbridge Riverside Trust in the Longshed.

The Sutton Hoo Ships Company (an independant Charity) started work on the replica in 2019, you can find more information about the construction on the Ship’s Company website.

The Anglo-Saxon ship reconstruction in the Longshed is a unique project set up by the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company.

Just across the river Deben from the Longshed are the ancient burial mounds of Sutton Hoo, where the first King of England, Raedwald, was interred in a burial ship with many great treasures very nearly 1400 years ago in 625 AD. This huge ship, which was over 27 metres or 90 feet long – was dragged up the hill to a final resting place where it lay undisturbed for over 1300 years, until it was excavated in 1939 just before the Second World War.

Why build a replica ship?

This project will gain new insights into the craftsmanship and seamanship of the Anglo-Saxons as well as their lives, culture and trade between East Anglia and neighbouring countries.

After the build the SHSC will carry out sea-trials, to test how the boat was propelled (by oars and/or sail), what it could have been used for, what it may have carried, under what conditions was it safe and therefore where it might have been used.