The largest Viking longship built in modern times arrived in Wirral yesterday. I’ve had a connection to Vikings ever since I was a kid. I grew up in Thingwall. As I’m sure you know *ahem* Thingwall comes from the phrase for Viking meeting place, þing vollr. As kids our headmaster once marched us from the school to the local church. He wore a plastic Viking helmet. So I grew up with a connection to it. A minor one for sure but it was there. Seeing this ship arrive on the Mersey and sail into the docks was a really lovely sight. The detail in the ship is breathtaking. They didn’t just make a long ship they really really made a long ship. It’s a working museum piece.

It was built in Haugesund, Norway using techniques that go back to Viking ages. It’s 115 feet long with a 2,800sq ft sail made of pure silk. It’s currently docked in Wallasey West Float for a couple of weeks and leaves on 3rd August. The mast is being repaired and I can’t wait to see it off with the full sail out. You can follow their updates on Facebook.