Priory Park 'Camp Bling' protest
Prittlewell Saxon Cemetary

Issued by the Sacred Sites project, 14 December 2005
Contact [email protected]
or J. Blain at 07919 556371

Prittlewell Saxon Cemetery in Essex, including the burial site of the so-called 'Prittlewell Prince', is under threat from road development. The importance of the site has been likened to the famous Sutton Hoo ship burials. An urban tree camp named 'Camp Bling', after the 'Prince' (the 'King of Bling') has been established above the burial site, in protest.

The cemetery, at Priory Cresent, Southend-on-Sea, was excavated in 1923 and 1930, and finds of both men (buried with shields, swords and spearheads) and women (with fine gold jewellery and glass beads) date the site to 500-650 CE, a period leading up to the pagan conversion to Christianity.

Most recently, in 2003, a 'princely burial' was found on the highest ground of the cemetery: a man, laid in a coffin within a timber-lined chamber (4 metres square by 1.5 metres deep), was accompanied by such high-status objects as bronze feasting bowls and cauldrons, drinking horns and glass vessels, a gaming set, a sword, a lyre - and a gold buckle, two gold coins and two small gold-foil crosses. The coins (dated to 600-650 CE) may have been placed in each hand of the 'king', while the crosses are thought to have been placed over his eyes. The find is crucial evidence in furthering our understanding of the conversion from paganism to Christianity.

There is a possibility that further barrow burials may still exist on the site directly related to the 'Prince'. The proposed road scheme would have a major impact on the surviving archaeology across the site. The fragile archaeology would likely be damaged by vibration and compaction during the construction of the road and subsequent road use.

Camp Bling is establishing a visitor center about the cemetery, the protest site, and their campaign to stop the road-building which is scheduled for March 2006 despite near-unanimous local public opposition. The construction of the controversial F5 dual carriageway planned for the A127/A1159 Priory Crescent involves an 870 metre stretch of new carriageway estimated to reduce costing a staggering £11.242 million (three times the initial estimates). Camp Bling is strategically situated in the middle of the route of the proposed road and railway bridge next to Liverpool Street railway line.

• See: www.savepriorypark.org
• Also: http://society.guardian.co.uk/environment/story/0,,1521737,00.html

Write your support and send donations to: Camp Bling
1 King's Burial
Priory Crescent
Southend-on-Sea
SS2 6JZ

Voice your protest to: Karen Buck MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
26 Whitehall
London SW1A 2WH

[email protected]