Site of the House of Wessex in Long Wittenham. Image: Sylva Foundation
In 2016, during preparations underway before planting a new community woodland, Sylva Foundation, an environmental charity, worked with archaeologists to reveal the remains of an important Anglo-Saxon building on its land in south Oxfordshire.
The building’s age, dimensions, and location all pointed to its importance for the Wessex Kingdom, perhaps even a royal residence. Archaeologists believe it will have formed part of a settlement associated with a leading family of the West Saxons in the seventh century.
Thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the charity was able to gather together experts and volunteers to design and then faithfully reconstruct the building using tools and techniques from the period.
After months of planning, and the donation of more than 80 trees from the Blenheim Estate, the raising of the timber frame took place this summer. The house was built on the same site, but just one metre removed to preserve any remaining archaeology.