Sutton Hoo, one of the most historic sites in Suffolk has a brand new exhibition.

The Dig: A Story Unearthed is a new temporary exhibition at Sutton Hoo and tells the untold stories of the real people featured in Netflix’s The Dig.

The film, which starred Ralph Fiennes as archaeologist Basil Brown and Carey Mulligan as Edith Pretty, was based on the John Preston novel of the same name. It explores the excavation of the Great Ship Burial in 1939, which revealed the final resting place of an important Anglo-Saxon king and went on to become one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time.

The exhibition opened on Thursday 8 May 2025 and will be held in the High Hall exhibition building, where it features some of the original costumes, jewellery and props used in the film.  Screen Suffolk were delighted to help bring the props to Suffolk and worked with the production and Sutton Hoo on the project.  It was a pleasure to attend the grand opening and see the exhibition first.

The exhibition focusses on six people from the Sutton Hoo story: Edith Pretty, the former landowner who commissioned the dig, her son Robert Pretty, and archaeologists Basil Brown and Peggy Piggott. Serious amateur photographers, Mercie Lack and Barbara Wagstaff, will also feature.

The Dig: A Story Unearthed opens on 8 May 2025 and runs until 25 January 2026. Entry to the exhibition is included in the entry ticket, which is free for National Trust members.  A great place to take the kids this half term.  If you do go to Sutton Hoo this month, and into June, you will also be able to see Time Team at work.  The team have been regular visitors to Suffolk and four episodes about Sutton Hoo and the new discoveries can be seen on YouTube.

We can’t wait to see this important show in production and wish them lots of sunny days!