Guest author: Roberta Eaton ~ The Sutton Hoo Helmet

Posted on September 9, 2018 by Sue Vincent

Background

Since its discovery in 1939, the Sutton Hoo Helmet has been a highly evocative symbol of Anglo Saxon England.

The discovery of the Sutton Hoo Helmet

The excavation of the grave barrows or mounds at Sutton Hoo was at the instance of Mrs Edith Pretty. She had travelled extensively with her father during her youth and her visits to Egypt had resulted in an interest in archaeology.

In May 1939, archaeologist, Basil Brown, who had been commissioned by Mrs Pretty to investigate the burial mounds at Sutton Hoo, came across the remains of a burial boat which turned out to be a 27-metre vessel.  In July 1939, the excavation was taken over by Charles Phillips at the request of the Ancient Monuments Inspectorate of the Office of Works. Although little remained of the timbers that had formed the large chamber across the middle of the ship, Phillips’ team uncovered a significant number of objects were discovered inside the chamber including a large silver dish, a shield, a heavy gold belt buckle, a pair of beautiful shoulder clasps, a chain-mail shirt, additional Byzantine silver dishes, a cauldron and drinking vessels.

On 28 July 1939, the team came upon the crushed remains of a helmet. The fragments were boxed up and sent to the British Museum.

The reconstruction of the helmet

The first reconstruction of the helmet was moulded onto a plaster head. It was rather imperfect and a second reconstruction was undertaken by Nigel Williams at a later stage. After nine months of studying the various pieces, reconstruction of the helmet started onto a plaster dome covered with an oil free plasticine.

The pictures below feature the beautifully reconstructed original helmet as well as a replica.

The importance of the Sutton Hoo finding

The beauty and intricacy of the objects found demonstrated a sophistication that was unexpected by scholars from a period that was then called “The Dark Ages”. The find also illustrated that life in seventh-century eastern England was not isolated and insular. The objects found showed a connection to all of the then-known world.

Why does the Sutton Hoo Helmet interest me so much?

Quite simply, Sutton Hoo, where the helmet was discovered, is in Suffolk which is the area where my mother’s family lived and where she grew up. I have always been interested in my mother’s childhood and background and when I saw this helmet featured as one of the top 10 articles to see at the British Museum in London, I was thrilled. My husband, Terence, and I immediately sought this display out and he patiently waited while I read every inscription and took a photograph of every item in the display. He then accompanied me to the gift shop and bought me the book.

New blog

My interest in English history and the research for my recent book, While the Bombs Fell, written with my mother, Elsie Patricia Eaton, and published under my married name of Robbie Cheadle, sparked an interest in, and further historical research into, the various ghosts that are said to haunt the town of Bungay in East Anglia. The people who are purported to now be ghosts lived in a far greater range of time periods than I had researched previously. While the Bombs Fell is about life for an English farming family living in Bungay during World War II and covers the historical time period from 1939 to 1944 (the book ends just after D-Day and book 2 will feature the end of the war). Some of the ghosts of Bungay originate from the 12th century.

I had an idea for another book that would feature the ghosts I had discovered and researched. This book idea included an introduction that I think of, now that it is finished, as a Canterbury Tales of Bungay ghosts. It includes fictionalised accounts of the stories of each of the ghosts featured in the story. Each story required extensive research into the particular time period including food, drink and clothing from that ghosts particular time period.

I was advised by various other writers that I should separate my new supernatural and horror stories from my children’s books for marketing purposes. This separation has resulted in my new blog, called Roberta Writes, together with a separate email address and twitter account. I am using this separate profile for sharing my thoughts on, and discoveries about, historical characters and events that feature in the new book, Nemesis, or that just interest me. I am also sharing some of my more cynical poetry about modern life and current world events. Nemesis will be published under my maiden name of Roberta Eaton and, I am hoping, it will be the first of a number of supernatural books based on real historical events.

Find and follow Roberta Eaton

Roberta Writes Blog     Twitter    Facebook

Tell me a story!

If you are a writer, artist or photographer…If you have a poem, story or memoirs to share… If you have a book to promote, a character to introduce, an exhibition or event to publicise… If you have advice for writers, artists or bloggers…

If you would like to be my guest, please read the guidelines and get in touch!

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
This entry was posted in Ancient sites, Art, England, Guest post, History, Photography and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

42 Responses to Guest author: Roberta Eaton ~ The Sutton Hoo Helmet

  1. Ritu says:
    September 9, 2018 at 17:14

    Wonderful post Robbie!!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. Jacquie Biggar says:
    September 9, 2018 at 18:12

    Thanks for sharing this piece of history, Robbie. That helmet is stunning!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. robertawrites235681907 says:
    September 9, 2018 at 18:29

    Reblogged this on Roberta Writes and commented:
    Sue Vincent has hosted Roberta Writes on her fascinating blog, Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. This post is about the historical discovery of the Sutton Hoo Helmet in East Anglia.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Colleen Chesebro says:
    September 9, 2018 at 19:52

    I loved this, Robbie. Congratulations on the new blog! I love history and have already followed you! ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. Darlene says:
    September 9, 2018 at 20:25

    This is fascinating. I must see this helmet. I have seen the Viking helmet discovered in York. I too love history and am excited to read more on your new blog.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  7. olganm says:
    September 9, 2018 at 20:30

    very interesting, Robbie. Good luck with your new blog and your books.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. Don Massenzio says:
    September 10, 2018 at 13:13

    Reblogged this on DSM Publications and commented:
    Check out this post, Guest author: Roberta Eaton ~ The Sutton Hoo Helmet, from Sue Vincent’s blog.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. OIKOS™-Redaktion says:
    September 10, 2018 at 13:43

    What a story, Robbie! Very interesting, and the new blog a good choice. Best wishes, Michael.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. Teagan R. Geneviene says:
    September 10, 2018 at 14:41

    Hi Sue and Robbie. Thanks for this fascinating post. The photos are gorgeous. Hugs.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  12. ellenbest24 says:
    September 10, 2018 at 16:39

    We live right by Sutton Hoo. So if you visit this way just message and we can meet. Great post Robbie

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. dgkaye says:
    September 11, 2018 at 01:41

    What an amazing slice of history Robbie. The history on the helmet is amazing. And I applaud you for taking on yet another genre to write in. I had to laugh as I read along and didn’t realize until the end that Roberta Eaton was Robbie Cheadle. 🙂 ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  14. Jack Eason says:
    September 14, 2018 at 07:19

    Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
    Sutton Hoo – just down the road from me 😉

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.