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Search for the Norse Impact on the Cultural Landscape

Project News!

Cumberland Wrestling - A Viking Legacy? Read the article written and researched by Shirley Muir on Cumberland wrestling. Listen to interviews with Cumberland Wrestlers and watch video footage of wrestling in action!

 

Through the 'Cultural Exchange' element of the Bassenthwaite Reflections project 'Search for the Norse Impact on the Cultural Landscape, French Canadian roving reporter and raconteur, Delphine Jasmin-Belisle, begins her regular reports by describing an event at Trotter's World of Animals. Delphine's news articles, reports and stories will be a regular feature on the project's web pages…..

Article 1: The Vikings and Faeries' tent: a brilliant combination

Project Description

The project 'Search for the Norse Impact on the Cultural Landscape' has been developed out of three former European Union funded projects delivered by Grampus; the 'Raphael' (1997 - 2000) supported 'Preserving and Reconstructing Ancient Buildings of Wood' (PARABOW), which involved reconstruction of Viking age buildings in Iceland and Denmark, the 'Culture 2000' (2000 - 2001) supported 'Culturally-Aligned Products & Processes' (CAPP), which involved skills training in Viking Age crafts in the UK, Iceland, Denmark and Ireland and the Cumbria RDP/ERDP (2003) supported work that Grampus completed as a feasibility study for a reconstructed Viking Age village, entitled 'The Vikings in Cumbria'.

The project uses the theme of the Norse / Viking / Anglo-Scandinavian impact or probable impact, as a means of involving young people in active outdoor activity in the catchment of Bassenthwaite Lake. They will work with historians, cultural landscape analysts, farmers, foresters and planners to investigate a number of physical structures and traditions, which might be traceable to Norse settlement. The lack of documentary and field evidence of the Norse period in Cumbria resulted in a change of name and the inserting of 'Search for' in the project title. The relative lack of archaeological evidence has led to an increase in emphasis on custom, tradition, legend, dialect and literature rather than an academic work on structures.

 

The selected themes have been drawn out of the series of community interactive workshops held in the Project Development Phase…..

Summer 2007 - Ancient wood pasture & practices in pollarding trees and dating of veteran trees, Seathwaite, Stonethwaite & Keskadale.
Summer 2007 - Cumberland wrestling - a study of the sport and a comparison with Scandinavia.
Summer 2007 - Viking skills days at Trotters World of Animals.
Autumn 2007 - Norse and Anglo-Scandinavian art investigation.
Autumn 2007 - Anglo-Scandinavian farmers - bield construction and Herdwick study.
Winter 2007 - Woodworking workshops & traditional skills.
Spring 2008 - Thirlmere and Helvellyn - exploring the works of W G Collingwood.
Summer 2008 - Transhumance - shielings, survey, re-enactment and reconstruction.
Summer 2008 - Viking skills days at Trotters World of Animals.
Winter 2008 - Cumberland and Westmorland dialect.
Spring 2009 - Seach for the Norwegian recessive gene - genetic assaying of local males.
Summer 2009 - Viking textiles - skills training in rag rugs, tablet weave, knitting, spinning, weaving and dyeing (to coincide with 'Woolfest' - Cockermouth).
Summer 2009 - Viking skills days at Trotters World of Animals.
Autumn 2009 - Folklore and storytelling - 'Gods, Saints and Heroes'
Autumn / Winter 2009 - Reconstruction of Viking house and simple field system at Armathwaite.

Each interactive theme has common elements…

" As a general rule, input from partners in Scandinavia and other countries where the Norse had an impact (i.e., Holland, Ireland, Iceland, Northern France and Germany, the Baltics, etc.) is encouraged. Such input and interaction helps to identify the possible Norse impact and introduces new ideas and skills that might have passed through the ages in a more intact form. The involvement of EU Member States also releases European Union funding from 'Culture 2000', 'Leonardo da Vinci and 'Youth'. All the events and themes will involve overseas visitors at times but will involve Cumbrians and UK visitors to the catchment in the main.

" Each event involves the investigators collecting evidence from the landscape, literary sources, databases and records. The term 'evidence' should not have too scientific a definition, legend, folklore and contemporary literature, all have an impact on the catchments cultural landscape. In all cases the ways of presenting and interpreting what they discover will be a critical element.

" Where materials are gathered for reconstructions, i.e., the bield at St. Johns-in-the-Vale and the shieling reconstruction, the principles of Local Agenda 21 will be adhered to and sustainability will be the keyword.

" Each investigation has training offered to the investigators by local experts, professionals, craftworkers and artisans. This training is to be recognised, certificated and validated by a number of mechanisms, including the 'John Muir Award'.

" Each investigation has the function of disseminating results and findings to a wider audience and stimulating a legacy of cultural tourism.

" Each investigation will consider the opportunities presented in showcasing local materials and products, such as Herdwick Wool, worked iron, Anglo-Scandinavian art forms and jewellery. The branding of Cumbrian cultural products will be considered in order to secure the legacy.

" The results of each investigation are gathered in an archive, exhibited, added to and continually re-used for display, teaching and promotion of local products, as well as giving the local sustainability message….. 'Our Sustainable Ancestors' The archive is held at a number of village halls and local schools.

" The project will offer out of school and family learning opportunities through Cumbria County Council.

Children learning about runes and creating their own runic inscriptions during a Viking Event at Trotters World of Animals

 

Grampus Heritage and Training Ltd, Ashgill, Threapland, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 2EL, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0) 16973 21516 Fax: +44 (0) 16973 23040 E.Mail: enquiries@grampusheritage.co.uk