Applicant: The National Trust
Location: Sutton (near Woodbridge), Suffolk, East of England
Grant awarded: £3,600,000
Grant programme: Heritage Grants
Type of heritage: Countryside and nature conservation
Benefits: More visitors, wider educational access and interpretation of local, regional and national heritage.

Background to the project
The Sutton Hoo estate includes: the site of the burial of a seventh-century king of Anglia, a coach house, 95 hectares of grass heath, saltings and woodland on the Deben estuary, and a substantial house of 1910 (Sutton Hoo House). The burial ground is a scheduled Ancient Monument. The estate lies within the Suffolk Valley ESA, and an AONB. Parts of the estate are designated as a site of Scientific Interest. The estate had lain in private ownership but was offered to the National Trust as a gift on the condition of the creation of an education centre.

What did the project involve?
The project provides appropriate interpretation and reception facilities for visitors to the site. The coach house was converted to an education centre and acts as the main interpretation and reception area, containing exhibitions relating to the site. There is a viewing platform, enabling visitors to look over the burial ground, and access paths are provided throughout the estate.

What difference did the project make?
The project has enabled people to gain a more thorough understanding of the site. There are strong tourism benefits. Previously Sutton Hoo was open to the public on an infrequent basis and interpretation was poor. There were no visitor facilities on the site. Now, visitors have access to the entire estate although access to the burial site is controlled for its protection. The visitor complex is located away form the burial ground and makes good use of the existing coach house.

How did the project meet our criteria?
The project both conserved and enhanced our diverse heritage by recognising, improving and increasing access to the site’s ecological and cultural heritage value through the conversion of an existing heritage building into an educational, interpretative, visitor facility, and through increasing visitor access to the site. Good local promotion and media coverage has allowed the wider public to have access to and enjoy their heritage.

Useful tips
Projects including educational facilities and anticipating school visits are best served by a comprehensive educational policy. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has produced guidelines to help projects formulate this.

A project of this size would also need to produce a conservation management plan, as well as a business plan – HLF similarly offer publications on these topics. We expect the projects that we support to provide wider public benefit, making sure that as many and as wide a range of people will enjoy and appreciate your scheme. All projects should be sustainable and designed with the involvement of those likely to be affected.