The archaeologist who discovered the Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon burial site has been honoured with a blue plaque at his former home in mid Suffolk.

Basil Brown, the self-taught excavator who found the remains of a burial ship near Woodbridge in 1939, has been recognised with the plaque at his home of more than 40 years in Rickinghall.

The blue plaque was organised by a small group of volunteers from Quatrefoil, who unveiled it on Sunday – the 84th anniversary of the discovery on May 8, 1939.

Blue plaques are erected to commemorate the buildings in which notable figures from the past lived.

East Anglian Daily Times: Basil Brown, who discovered the Sutton Hoo burial siteBasil Brown, who discovered the Sutton Hoo burial site (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Brown was born in Bucklesham, near Ipswich, in January 1888 but spent the majority of his life living in Rickinghall, near the border with Norfolk.

He initially rented the Cambria house with his wife May in 1935 before the couple bought it outright.

It was only a few years later that Mr Brown made the world-famous discovery of the burial site during an excavation of Edith Pretty's Sutton Hoo estate.

East Anglian Daily Times: The home in Rickinghall, mid SuffolkThe home in Rickinghall, mid Suffolk (Image: Quatrefoil)

In May of 1939, Mr Brown and his team began painstakingly digging a trench under a mound the homeowner had become suspicious of.

They found an outline of a ship that had rotted away years ago, but in the centre was a burial chamber full of treasures - including weapons, shields, buckles, shoulder clasps and pots.

Many historians believe the ship was used as the grave of Rædwald, King of East Anglia, who is thought to have died in 624.

The story was adapted into The Dig film in 2021, which starred Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan and was released on Netflix.

East Anglian Daily Times: Quatrefoil members with the blue plaque in RickinghallQuatrefoil members with the blue plaque in Rickinghall (Image: Quatrefoil)

Sarah Doig is the chair of Quatrefoil, which researches the history of Rickinghall, Botesdale and Redgrave.

She said: "We are absolutely delighted that we now have such a visible recognition of our most famous resident.

"Basil is fondly remembered in the neighbourhood by all who knew him, and we are all proud of his many archaeological achievements.

"He was always generous with his time and expertise, inspiring the younger generation’s interest in archaeology and local history."