Edith Pretty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edith Pretty
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| Born |
Edith May Dempster
1 August 1883 Elland, Calderdale, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Died | 17 December 1942 (aged 59) |
| Occupation | Landowner, benefactor, magistrate |
| Spouse(s) |
Frank Pretty
(m. 1926; died 1934) |
| Children | Robert Dempster Pretty |
| Parent(s) |
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Edith May Pretty (born Dempster; 1 August 1883 – 17 December 1942) was an English woman who owned a large piece of land called Sutton Hoo. This land became famous because of an amazing discovery made there. Edith hired a local archaeologist named Basil Brown to explore some mysterious mounds on her property. What they found was one of the most important archaeological discoveries ever made in Britain: an ancient ship burial!
Contents
Early life and travels
Edith Pretty was born in Elland, Yorkshire, in 1883. Her parents were Elizabeth and Robert Dempster. Her family was very wealthy because they owned a successful business that made equipment for the gas industry.
In 1884, Edith's family moved to Manchester. Her father started another engineering company with his brother. Edith and her family loved to travel. They visited many countries, including Egypt, Greece, and Austria-Hungary. After finishing school at Roedean School, Edith spent six months in Paris. Later that same year, her family went on a trip around the world, visiting places like India and the United States.
From 1907 to 1925, Edith's father rented a grand country house called Vale Royal Abbey. Edith grew up with many staff members, including 25 people working inside the house and 18 gardeners. She also spent time helping others through public and charity work.
Later life and family
During World War I, Edith helped out by working as a quartermaster at a Red Cross hospital in Winsford. She also helped find homes for people who had to leave their countries because of the war. By 1917, she was working with the French Red Cross in France.
After her mother passed away in 1919, Edith took care of her father at Vale Royal. When he died in 1925, Edith and her sister inherited a very large amount of money.
In 1926, Edith married Frank Pretty. He had first asked her to marry him when she was 18! Frank was a Major in the Suffolk Regiment during World War I and was wounded twice. After the war, he continued to serve in the army while also working in his family's business.
After getting married, Edith left Vale Royal and bought a huge estate called Sutton Hoo in Suffolk. It was located right by the River Deben. She also became a magistrate in Woodbridge, which meant she helped make decisions in local courts.
In 1930, when Edith was 47, she gave birth to her son, Robert Dempster Pretty. Sadly, Frank Pretty died in 1934 from stomach cancer.
Archaeology at Sutton Hoo
Edith had always been interested in archaeology, which is the study of human history through digging up old things. She had seen archaeological digs during her travels. Also, her father had even helped dig up an old abbey next to their home at Vale Royal.
On the Sutton Hoo estate, there were about 18 ancient burial mounds. These mounds were only about 457 meters (500 yards) from Edith's home. In 1937, Edith talked to an archaeologist named Vincent B. Redstone about digging up the mounds. Later, a self-taught archaeologist from Suffolk, Basil Brown, was invited to start the excavation.
Basil Brown began digging in 1938 and found some interesting things. He came back in the summer of 1939 for more work. Soon, he made an incredible discovery: the remains of a huge burial site! It included what was later identified as a 7th-century Saxon ship. Experts believe it might have been the final resting place of King Rædwald of East Anglia. A curator from the British Museum called it "one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time."
After this amazing find, a team of professional archaeologists took over the excavation. In September 1939, it was decided that all the treasures found in the ship belonged to Edith. She then generously donated everything to the British Museum. Because of her amazing gift, the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, offered Edith a special honor called a CBE. However, she politely declined it.
Death and Sutton Hoo today
Edith Pretty passed away on 17 December 1942, at the age of 59, after having a stroke. She was buried in Sutton, Suffolk. A painting of Edith was later given to the National Trust by her grandson. Most of her money was put into a trust for her son, Robert, who was then cared for by his aunt. Robert died in 1988.
Sutton Hoo was used by the army until 1946, when it was sold. Later, the house and the famous Sutton Hoo burial site were given to The National Trust. The National Trust now looks after the site, so people can visit and learn about this incredible piece of history.
Portrayals in media
Edith Pretty's story has been told in different ways. A play about her was performed at Sutton Hoo in 2019. She is also a character in the novel The Dig by John Preston, which was published in 2007. In 2021, a film based on the book, also called The Dig, was released on Netflix. Edith Pretty is played by actress Carey Mulligan in the movie.
See also
In Spanish: Edith Pretty para niños
