The true story of Southport's Viking past

Did you know that Merseyside was once inhabited by Vikings? Learn what life was really like in those days.

One group, from Dublin, tried to settle in north Wales but was unable to gain a foothold. So, they floated up the coast until they came across an inviting peninsula. This land, known then and now as the Wirral, would become their domain for many years.

Before long, they had well and truly made themselves at home. So much so, in fact, that the Wirral Peninsula became something of a Norse kingdom within a kingdom – a place with a distinct culture, customs and language.

But that didn't mean that our Viking visitors were unfriendly to the locals. Quite the opposite, in fact.

What was Merseyside like in Viking times?

We often think of Vikings as hostile invaders: fierce, ferocious warriors who pillaged what they wanted and burned what was left.

And indeed they were – at least when they were doing the invading. But when it came to day-to-day existence, they were hardly the worst neighbours in the world.

Merseyside's Vikings were happy to trade and interact with their Anglo-Saxon counterparts. After all, they were more or less cousins – the Anglo-Saxons themselves had arrived in Britain from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands just a few short centuries prior.

In fact, it's believed that the Norsefolk were allowed to take over parts of Merseyside by Anglo-Saxon royalty.

As Dr Steve Harding, a local Viking expert, told the Liverpool Echo: "A lot of them were allowed to settle on the Wirral by Queen Æthelflæd of Mercia […] who was the daughter of Alfred the Great."

So, in Viking times, the land around Southport would have been a vibrant and multicultural area. You can imagine small Viking villages dotted along the coast, where residents would spend their days fishing, growing wheat and raising animals. And, occasionally, they might stop for a chat or trade goods with their Anglo-Saxon neighbours.

And we really do mean "stop for a chat". While the Vikings and the natives didn't exactly speak the same language, their tongues were close enough for them to engage in basic conversation.

Some historians believe that people started speaking a blend of Norse and Old English – and it's this "pidgin" dialect that eventually gave rise to the modern English we speak today.

How did the Vikings leave their mark on Merseyside?

Local archaeologists have discovered many artefacts that date back to Viking times. Unsurprisingly, many of these come from the Norse "mini-kingdom" of the Wirral Peninsula.

Among the most notable are weapons, brooches and part of a drinking horn. But the most spectacular find of all is yet to be dug up.

Experts believe a near-complete Viking boat lies buried beneath a pub car park in the Wirral suburb of Meols. So far, ground-penetrating radar has confirmed that a boat-shaped object is indeed buried underneath the pub patio – and archaeologists hope to investigate further. You couldn't make it up!

Artefacts aside, perhaps the most visible Viking influence on Merseyside is in its place names.

The area is awash with Norse-flavoured towns and villages. Examples include:

• Bromborough Rake (with "rake" deriving from the Old Norse word for "lane")
• Formby (meaning "old village")
• Crosby ("village with the cross")
• Meols ("sandbank")
• Thingwall ("parliament")
• Aigburth ("oak-tree hill")
• Croxteth ("Croc's landing place" or "landing place at the river bend")

We can even trace the multicultural history of Merseyside through its place names. Mixed in among the Viking towns are Old English names (like Liverpool and Fazarkley), as well as names of Welsh and Irish origin.

Are Scousers Vikings?

If this seems like an odd question, wait until you hear the answer.

According to our local Viking expert, Dr Harding, many Liverpudlians do indeed have Old Norse blood running through their veins.

If you have family roots in Merseyside dating from 1700 or earlier, says Harding, there's a good chance that at least 50% of your DNA is Viking DNA.

As for the other 50% – well, that could come from pretty much anywhere. During the Industrial Revolution, Liverpool became a world-leading port city – and attracted migrants from all over the world.

Still, being half-Viking isn't bad. As Dr Harding says, "they weren't a bunch of hooligans and thugs, as people may think. […] They were skilled craftsmen, farmers, traders, lawyers, politicians… even the word 'law' is a Viking word."

Whether you're a modern-day Viking or you're just looking for some all-ages fun, Southport Pleasureland promises a fantastic family day out. Visit us to enjoy 30+ rides and explore four themed lands, including Viking Landing: our family-friendly Viking theme park adventure. It's quick and easy to book tickets online.