In the 7th century AD, a King - it was surely no less - received a magnificent burial at Sutton Hoo, in East Anglia. A ship was hauled up from the river, a burial chamber was erected in the middle of it, and a stupendous collection of magnificent objects - gold and silver brooches and dishes, the sword of state, drinking horns and a lyre - was set in the burial chamber.

Fortunately, grave robbers never discovered the tomb, until in 1939 archaeologists stumbled upon what is still the greatest 'treasure' ever discovered in this country.

Here we see a photo of the excavations in 1939, with the excavators uncovering the chamber built at the middle of the ship, and Mrs Pretty, the landowner and sponsor of the excavations, sitting with her friends in the background. Photo: British Museum

In 2002 was acquired by the National Trust, and a new Visitor Centre was opened, and the site was made available to the public.