The Basque connection with Edith Pretty that’s not told in Netflix’s “The Dig”

Netflix has just debuted a new film called “The Dig“, telling the story of a British woman, Edith Pretty, who was in charge of excavating an Anglo-Saxon funeral barge in Sutton Hoo, one of the most important archaeological finds in Britain.

But this story, as told by Netflix, focuses on only a part of her life, starting just after the start of the Second World War, which is when the discovery was made, thanks to the her determination.

But for the Basques, this woman is central to the group of British men and women who fought to bring 4,000 Basque children to the UK to find refuge there from the horros that Fascism had wrought upon their homeland.

We’ve covered this topic in depth here on the blog, and a good amount of the information we’ve brought you has been thanks to a British associations whose main goal is to keep the memory of all of that alive: of the children who ended up there and of the British men and women who made it happen.  We’re referring to the Basque Children of ’37 Association, a group of people doing extraordinary work which we always strive to highlight, because they have become the guardians of a very important chapter in our history.

And today we must again thank them for discovering this story of how important Edith Pretty‘s role in taking in our boys and girls was.  She made a substantial donation to help finance the care of the 100 Basque refugee children who reached Ipswich, Suffolk in 1937, a couple of years before making the find in Sutton Hoo.  It was yet another gesture from a person who showed great commitment to humanitarian causes throughout her life.

We’re sure that once our readers have seen this film, they will have a much better, more well-rounded understanding of this amazing woman, friend to the Basques.

We’ll leave you with the Basque Children of ’37 Association Twitter thread telling this magnificent story.

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If you’ve seen The Dig you might be interested to know that Edith Pretty made a substantial donation to help fund the care of 100 Basque refugee children who came to Ipswich, Suffolk in 1937, a couple of years before the Sutton Hoo discovery! https://t.co/e5ZLL9ecJP

— Basque Children of ’37 Association (@basquechildren) January 30, 2021

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The British Museum –    – Great Britain

Edith Pretty

Edith Pretty (1883–1942) was responsible for the excavation of the Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo, one of the most important discoveries in British archaeology. In a stunning act of generosity, in 1939, Pretty donated all of the finds, including the famous Sutton Hoo helmet, to the British Museum. Discover what led Pretty to excavate her land and ultimately to reveal a wealth of Anglo-Saxon objects of remarkable artistry.

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National Trust  –   – Great Britain

Sutton Hoo

This hauntingly beautiful 255 acre estate, with far-reaching views over the River Deben, is home to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. Walk around the Royal Burial Ground and discover the incredible story of the ship burial of an Anglo-Saxon king and his treasured possessions. Keep reading to help plan your visit. We can’t wait to see you again!

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Last Updated on Feb 1, 2021 by About Basque Country