On the way to my parent's place for a weekend visit in late February, we visited the Saxon village re-construction and museum at West Stow in Suffolk. It was a bright and sunny day, so it was nice to see something in the countryside, and in this case an attraction that was easy to get to as it was just a little way off our main route.
The site is made up of a museum (split into two parts - the smaller one highlighting archeological finds presented in order of 'era', and the larger one featuring fascinating examples of everyday items, clothing and weapons,
) a restaurant which we didn't bother with, and the (obligatory) shop selling the usual tourist trinkets. The buildings these are in look relatively new. A short walk into a large field at the back of the museum complex are the re-creations of a village from saxon times, constructed near to the site of many important finds. This comprises of several huts constructed over a few years from the early 1970's, and they are very well done. The wooden huts show how the common people lived in post Roman Britain - it must have been tough, cold and dirty! A female saxon re-enactor was in one of the huts, showing traditional cooking techniques. Wow, that smoke got us in the throat! Ugh. One hut was constucted half buried in the ground, based on a theory from archeologists of the early 1970's - something I bel
ieve has now been discarded.
Also when we visited, they were doing a "Lord of the Rings" day to entertain the kids for half-term, hence the few Middle Earth re-enactors wandering around in costume. Up the hill near to the huts, there was archery being demonstrated, and here and there a few children and tired-looking parents could be found participating in a Middle Earth style quiz. I guess they had to find clues around the estate or something.
We found some chickens and cockrels wandering around behind the back of the museum, and they were fantastic! Thankfully they posed long enough for me to get a photo or two.
The site is located in the middle of an attractive country park, which is open to the public free of charge. It will be pleasant to go back when the weather is a little walmer, so we can do some easy walking around the attractive woodland paths and see the lake. Also, there are plenty of places to have a picninc lunch!
A nice diversion on a little weekend break by the sea!
