Vincent Burrough Redstone facts for kids

Vincent Burrough Redstone (1853 – 1941) was a historian from Suffolk, England. He is well-known for suggesting that the famous Sutton Hoo ship-burial site should be dug up. This site later became one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Britain.

Redstone was a teacher, known as a master, at Woodbridge School. He also served as the secretary for the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology. After retiring from teaching in 1921, he spent his life studying history. He was especially recognized for his research into the Huguenot people who settled in Suffolk.

Early Life and Career

Vincent Redstone was born in 1853. Sadly, his father passed away shortly after he was born. Vincent grew up in an orphanage in Wanstead, Essex. There, he trained to become a teacher. He then taught at the same orphanage for a while.

In 1880, Redstone moved to Woodbridge. He started teaching at Woodbridge School. His job title was "General English master and Commercial Subjects." Later, he became the second master at the school.

Redstone quickly became a respected historian. He studied old records from the Seckford Trust. He was recognized by important history groups, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries.

With his daughters, Lillian and Elsie, he created a large collection of information about Suffolk's history. This collection was kept at the Seckford Library and his home. Many scholars used his research. For example, Basil Brown, an archaeologist, used Redstone's notes to learn about Saxon history in Suffolk.

How Redstone Helped with Sutton Hoo

In 1937, at a local event in Woodbridge, Vincent Redstone met Edith Pretty. Mrs. Pretty owned the land where the Sutton Hoo mounds were located. She talked to Redstone about the idea of digging up the mounds.

Redstone then wrote to his friend Guy Maynard at Ipswich Museum. He invited Maynard to have lunch with Mrs. Pretty. Redstone described Mrs. Pretty as "very pleasing, intelligent." The lunch happened on July 26, 1937.

Redstone himself took part in the early excavations at Sutton Hoo. In August 1939, he and his daughter Lilian wrote an article for the Woodbridge Reporter. In the article, they asked, "Was it King Redwald?" This question was about who might have been buried at Sutton Hoo.

Family Life

Vincent Redstone married Grace Linsey. They lived at 3 Seckford Street in Woodbridge. This house was the old Woodbridge School Masters House, right next to the Seckford Library.

Vincent and Grace had three daughters. One daughter, Lilian Jane Redstone (1885-1955), became the first official archivist for East Suffolk. Another daughter, Elsie, became the librarian at the Seckford Library in Woodbridge.