Work goes on apace at the Longshed in Woodbridge, where the iconic Sutton Hoo burial ship is being painstakingly recreated using ancient tools and techniques. The crew are currently working on the tricky sheer strake, the very topmost row of planking. This is a much more complex operation, requiring the plank to be shaved to different depths along its profile so that it can sit correctly along the top of the boat. New structures have been erected to facilitate this operation in the Longshed, so it’s well worth going along to have a look!

The Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company charity is nearing completion of this ambitious £1.5 million community project to rebuild the 90-foot vessel using authentic materials and reviving ancient boatbuilding skills.

Local businesses and individuals sponsoring the ship’s construction will receive a framed certificate and a ‘Raedwald’s Warrant’ decal for display in their premises, in recognition of their support.

There are three tiers of sponsorship available, with full details available on the Ship’s Company’s website or by contacting corporatesponsorship@saxonship.org.

From April 2028, the Ship’s Company will need a new site to establish a National Boat Building Centre, so if you know of any buildings or land in the Woodbridge area that could accommodate an iconic project like this, please get in touch!

Saturday 23 May will be our Saxon Festival 2026, an all-day event taking place at the Longshed, on Whisstock’s Place and over the river at Sutton Hoo. It’ll be fun for all the family!

There will be many stalls on Whisstock’s Place, and in the Longshed we shall have an Anglo-Saxon storyteller and plenty of free activities for children, too. It will also be possible to book to have a go at four ship-building skills, as last year, and there will be a hands-on workshop available to book for anyone wanting to have a go at making something out of our offcuts of wood. In the morning, there will be an event at the Riverside Theatre with a new film about the project and its volunteers followed by a fascinating Q&A session about the progress made over the past twelve months. In the evening, there will be bookable small-group tours of the Sutton Hoo site, so it’s going to be a day full of interesting things to do. Full details and booking links are available from the Saxon Festival 2026 page on the website: https://saxonship.org/saxon-ship-events/saxon-ship-events-2026/