“Putting up a statue of Ingimund in Wirral is a creative initiative. We really need to do this. Think of the visionary links: Trondheim - Wirral - Iceland - North America”. 

Stein Thue, Special Adviser,  Municipality of Trondheim

The proposal is to construct a 2 metre statue of Wirral’s famous Viking leader Ingimund at Dove Point, Meols, together with a single story Ingimund Viking Centre (along the lines of the Offa’s Dyke Centre at Prestatyn).  The statue and Centre would form the start points of a new Wirral Viking tourist trail and an annual Viking “Olsok” Pilgrimage.  These developments would provide a valuable Education resource and local Leisure activity and would form a major tourist attraction and economic return for a relatively small investment. It would provide the catalyst for strong cultural and economic ties with Trondheim, Iceland and Seattle. 

Background

The Wirral is a peninsula in the North West of England separated from Wales by the Dee Estuary and Liverpool/South West Lancashire by the River Mersey. Despite the fact it is home to approximately 400,000 people- nearly twice the population of Iceland - it has struggled to find its own identity, eclipsed by Liverpool with the Beatles and its Maritime History, and Roman Chester.   The World’s cameras will be here in 2006 when the Open Golf Championship comes to Hoylake.  This is the opportunity to show everyone it has a very special heritage that Liverpool, Chester, North Wales can’t match – a Heritage based around its great Viking history, and a Heritage locals are at last beginning to become aware of – and extremely proud of: 

Ø      Wirral is the only place in mainland Britain with documented evidence of primarily Norwegian based Viking settlers. Ancient Irish Chronicles report the first peaceful settlements led by the Norsemen Ingimund in 902AD, followed by repeated attacks on Chester after the peninsula became full.  The story of Ingimund represents Wirral’s own ancient Viking Saga.

Ø      The area is full of major and minor place names of Scandinavian Origin: it has the highest density of –by place names in the UK. Even its football team Tranmere is a Viking name.  Forty generations or so ago Wirral was home to a thriving Scandinavian population with its own language and customs, its own parliament at Thingwall (“Þing-vollr: Assembly Field”) and its own seaport at Meols (“Melr: sandbank”). 

Ø      English communities in the southern end of the peninsula (south and east of Raby – ra-by: boundary settlement) would keep a watchful eye from the other side of the River Dibbin, for example where the Angle Bruna had his burh or fortress, probably on the site of Poulton Hall, home since 1093 of the oldest family name on Wirral (Lancelyn-Green).  Brunanburh the old name for Bromborough is also the name of a famous battle fought in 937AD which most experts believe took place on Wirral soil.

Ø      Norse dialect words from the settlers have been passed down through the centuries – we know this from the large number of minor field/track names (e.g. rake, carr, thwaite, breck). Someone has said Wirral has more carrs –kjarr- than Jeremy Clarkson and more rakes –rak- (over 100) than Alan Titchmarsh!.   Even by the turn of the 15^th century people with Scandinavian names like Mabilla Raynaldesdoghter, and the siblings of Hondes - Agnes Hondesdoghter, Johanna Honesdoghter and Richard Hondesson - were filling in their rent books.

Ø      The famous 14^th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight written by some unknown poet in or near the area has a large proportion of Norse dialect words. Some have associated the patron of the poet – or even the poet himself – who recalls Gawain wandering through Wirral in search of the Green Knight at the Green Chapel – with Sir John Stanley of Storeton Hall (1354-1408), Knight of the Garter and ancestor of Steve Harding’s mum!

Ø      BBC Blood of Vikings (the Bill Housley story) followed by a detailed genetic survey of the area based on men possessing surnames present in the area before the great population movements of the 19^th century appear to show significant Viking blood remains today (50% of the men tested had their strongest Y-chromosome matches in Scandinavia).

Ø      Wirral prides itself in its Viking Legends – such as Thor’s stone at Thurstaston and the famous King Canute event whom locals believe was sent to reverse the constant flooding at Meols, Moreton and Leasowe (home until before its destruction in 1950 of the “Canute Chair”).

The Development

1. Erection of Ingimund statue at Dove Point, Meols. 

2. Ingimund Viking Centre - Great Meols/Hoylake Promenade: A single story Education/Interpretation/Resource Centre. 

3. Creation of a Wirral Viking Trail, starting and finishing at the Statue/Centre. 

4. Creation of an annual “Wirral Olsok” Pilgrimage Trail (first weekend in August). 

1. Erection of Ingimund Statue at Dove Point, Meols

 

This is what the statue and scene once constructed might look like. In fact the one in the picture is actually Leif Erikson overlooking Trondheim Fjord with Monkholmen island in the foreground and the Tronder mountains behind (Photo: Roger Midtstraum).  Wirral’s corresponding feature will be Ingimund overlooking the Dee Estuary with Hilbre in the foreground and the Welsh mountains behind.

There are currently 3 Leif statues - at Trondheim (2 metres), Brattahlid (2 metres) and Seattle (5 metres).  Wirral’s would follow the Trondheim model, with one or two small (costless) changes to make it Ingimund. The original sculptur was the Norwegian immigrant (to USA) August Werner (1893-1980).  It would be made by the same people who constructed the other three: the Leif Erikson Int'l Foundation at Seattle, who have the mold and are basically ready to go.  The cost is $60,000 or ~ £35,000 for the statue + the cost of the base (approx £5000) + transport from west coast of the USA (approx £5000).  Kristine Leander, President of the Leif Erikson Foundation at Seattle, says the following:

“Hello Steve and others. Here are the prices from the foundry folks. Since a mold for the statue of Leif Erikson in Trondheim already exists, the cost to replicate it exactly would be around $60,000 in U.S. dollars. That does not include shipping or the base, of course. Just the completed bronze statue. The one piece that the foundry has done separately each time is the cross at his neck. That could be changed without any additional cost. We did some research at the time of the Trondheim casting and made it historically accurate, but perhaps your group has different ideas about the cross and whether it should be there or what it should look like.  If you'd like to make your statue of Ingimund somewhat different from Trondheim's Leif, a new head, face and helmet could be created for about $10,000 additional. If you'd like to change the sword in some way, there would be a charge of between $5,000 to $10,000. There are other changes that could be made, short of making a brand new statue, but these estimates give you an idea of the costs associated with changes. Incidentally, for comparison, we're told that a brand new statue from a different foundry and different sculptors, without starting with an existing mold, would be around $120,000. The statue was created with the height of the Trondheim base in mind. The proportions were done to look good at that height, so if you commission this statue, we'd suggest a base of the same approximate height.  In addition to the end result of our fine Viking looking out over the Trondheim harbor, there was another wonderful part of the creation of that statue that I should mention. We invited people from Trondheim to come and watch the casting. It was a most memorable celebration to witness the hot bronze being poured and then later cracking the mold to reveal the results. Without promising for sure that it's possible this time, if you were interested, we'd make every effort to make that opportunity available”.

The Municipality of Trondheim are very keen to develop close links with Wirral following visits to the peninsula in 2001/2002 of its then Deputy Mayor/ Mayor (Liv Sandven) and Director of Environment and Cultural Affairs (Gerhard Dalen).  Stein Thue, their Special Adviser says the following.

“Putting up a statue of Ingimund in Wirral  is a creative initiative. We really need to do this. Think of the visionary links: Trondheim - Wirral - Iceland - North America”

2. Ingimund Viking Centre: A single story Education/Interpretation/Resource Centre

A single story education/interpretation resource centre built along the same model as the Offa’s Dyke interepretation centre at Prestatyn.  It would contain a series of boards taking visitors through the Viking History of Wirral, from the agreement between Ingimund and Queen Aethelflaed to the recent Y-chromosome, and copies/replicas of Wirral’s treasure.

Ø      The Anglo Saxon rune stone “Pray for Athmund”

Ø      Copy of the Three Fragments (now in Brussels) recording the Ingimund story

Ø      Copy of the Anglo-Saxon poem recording the Battle of Brunanburh

Ø      Replica of the hogback tombstone (at St. Bridgets)

Ø      Replica of the Neston Cross (fragments at the Parish Church)

Ø      The Hnefatafl pieces at Warrington museum

Ø      Copy of the ancient documents recording e.g. Sigridr of Wallasey and the Wallasey klintir

Ø      Some of the Meols Viking finds (perhaps on loan)

It would include a small shop, selling Viking books and gifts (e.g. Hnefatafl etc.). It would also include interactive computer displays based on the CD/web material of the Wirral Learning Grid Vikings project (Key stage 2/3) about to be completed.  Eventually we would hope for an annexe incorporating a small auditorium.  The Centre would be used as a base for the Wirral Skip Felag to show their Viking crafts, weaponry and battle skills and eventually we would also envisage the construction of a replica Viking longboat.  Like the Offa’s Dyke centre it would also serve as a Tourist Information Point.

Besides being a significant tourist attraction it would be a major educational resource, and will show how a combination of Historical, Geographical, Archaeological and Scientific methods are being used to learn about our heritage.  

Huw Jones, of Denbighshire County Council has given us a rough idea on what it might cost, based on the Offa’s Dyke model:

To build (including supplies – water, electricity etc.), disabled access: £45,000

To equip: £40,000

Running costs (April-September opening, 5 days a week, Weds-Sun) – Member of staff £15,000 p.a.

The loos nearby would need an upgrade!

3. Creation of a Wirral Viking Trail, starting and finishing at the Statue/Centre

 Icelandic Tourists at the site of Wirral’s Thing or Viking Parliament, April 2003

The trail will be as follows

Ø      Start: Ingimund Statue/Centre

Ø      West Kirby: St. Bridgets (& hogback tombstone)*

Ø      Thurstaston (Visitor centre – Thorsteinn’s farmstead)

Ø      Thor's stone (we would try and persuade the Cottage Loaf to re-name to the more imaginative "The Hammer of Thor"),

Ø      the Viking horse race track at Heskeths, Irby,

Ø      Arrowe Park 

Ø      Thingwall (Cross Hill)* (ditto with the Bassett Hound pub to “The Thing”).

Ø      Storeton Hall*: Sir Gawain, The Green Knight, Sir John Stanley and Scandinavian Wirral

Ø      Brunanburh 1: Storeton Hill (Marsh Lane),

Ø      Brunanburh 2: Bebington (edge of golf course or Grammar School grounds)*,

Ø      Brunanburh 3: Poulton Hall (Bruna's burh?)*,

Ø      Tranmere (Football Ground)*,

Ø      Arno Hill

Ø      Wallasey brekka and klint (now called the Granny rock, off Millthwaite Road),

Ø      Moreton shore/Leasowe castle (Canute chair – can a replica of the former one made by the Cuss family but destroyed in 1950 be constructed?),

Ø      Return to Meols.

Interpretation boards would be desired at each of these places.  Some tidying up of the car-park areas necessary. 

A shortened trail would also be made available.  Tours would be self or as conducted parties.  *Indicates for conducted tours only: advance notice has to be given to St. Bridget’s Church, the Water Board (Cross Hill Reservoir car park), Storeton Farm, Wirral Grammar School (or Brackenwood Golf Club), the Lancelyn Green family, and Tranmere FC.

4. Creation of an annual “Wirral Olsok” Pilgrimage Trail (first weekend in August)

  St.Olavs pilgrims from Norway & Wirral

St. Olav (Olav Haraldsson, 995-1030) is the Patron Saint of Norway and responsible for bringing the Christian Faith to Norway and much of the Viking lands.  Although St. Olav's day is traditionally 29^th July his Festival in Trondheim Norway is celebrated well into August and includes a pilgrimage, which runs from Oslo to Trondheim, where he is buried.  The festival was recently revived also in Wirral as part of the 1100^th anniversary celebrations of Vikings settling in Wirral, and culminated in a service led by the 2002 St. Olavspilgrimprest Kjell Skartseterhagen (pictured left) at St. Olave’s.

The Wirral pilgrimage route will be as follows:

Ø      Start Ingimund Statue/Meols, Saturday, early!

Ø      Walk to St. Bridget’s West Kirby, for a blessing by the Rector, Revd. Roger Clarke

Ø      Along the Wirral Way to Thurstaston Visitor Centre for refreshments (some pilgrims can join the trail here)

Ø      Continue along the Wirral Way.  O/N accommodation to be arranged.

Ø      Along paths adjacent to the Old Chester Road though to St. Olave’s at Lower Bridge Street, Chester

Ø      “Olsok” Service at on Sunday am. in arrangement with the Cheshire Revival Church. Service will be led by a past or present St. Olavspilgrimsprest with the present pastor of the Revival Church

Ø      The Pilgrimage will coincide with the annual “Viking Encampment” at Arrowe Park run by the Wirral Skip-Felag, and the Wirral Olsok celebrations will end with a mini-battle re-enactment of the attacks by Scandinavian Wirral on Chester

This will become a major International attraction, a shorter satellite pilgrimage (22mile) following on from the Oslo-Trondheim (300mile) mammoth event.

Time Targets

As much in place by the 2006 British Open Golf Championship.  The other target dates are 2007 (this marks the 1100^th anniversary of Scandinavian Wirral attacking Chester) and 2008: Liverpool City of Culture.  We envisage the statue/centre would be officially opened by King Harald V of Norway in the presence of guests from Trondheim, Iceland, Seattle and Dublin: a great event for the Borough.

Elaine Whalley M.B.E., Cynthia Radford, Stephen Harding,

for the Friends of Hoylake and Meols Gardens and Open Spaces, 25^th April 2004