Releasing the Story of Sutton Hoo has received initial support from HLF, and will allow the National Trust to release the full potential of this dramatic landscape and its fascinating story.

Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and has been described as ‘Page one of English history’. The 7th-century burial mounds, excavated from the late 1930s onwards, have revealed items including the iconic Sutton Hoo helmet that have helped shape our understanding of the origins of English history. The landscape has been cared for by the National Trust since 1998.

[quote=Therese Coffey, MP for Suffolk Coastal]"Creating a new interactive experience to showcase this hugely important excavation is important for our national heritage."[/quote]

The National Trust said: “We want to enrich and enhance the experience people have when visiting Sutton Hoo. This special place is about so much more than the treasure, it tells the hugely significant story of how the first English people lived their lives. Their significance continues to resonate down the centuries in our language, our craft traditions and our connections to land and landscape.”

Therese Coffey, MP for Suffolk Coastal, said: “I’m delighted Sutton Hoo have been successful in obtaining a grant from HLF.  Creating a new interactive experience to showcase the story of this hugely important excavation is important for our national heritage and will attract many more visitors to Suffolk important for our local economy.”

Robyn Llewellyn, Head of HLF East of England, said: “Sutton Hoo is one of the most important Anglo-Saxon sites in the world and it's exciting that thanks to National Lottery players, Sutton Hoo will be transformed for visitors from near and far.  This is a great opportunity to share this amazing place and its stories from the past 6000 years.”

Although still in the early development stage, Releasing the Story of Sutton Hoo will ultimately see visitors take a whole new route through the landscape, with the importance and setting of the burial mounds playing a central role.

The aim of the project is to create an experience that will appeal to a wide range of visitors, whether they are holidaymakers looking for a family-friendly day out, local people who regularly enjoy the landmark, students studying the Anglo-Saxon period or international archaeological buffs on a historical pilgrimage.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2021.