Viking Objects
Early Medieval Pottery Fragments (2001-59)
These are fragments of a Torksey ware rim, decorated Stamford ware rim, and a Stamford ware pot rim. Torksey ware was a type of pottery found in central England and dating to the period ad 850 to 1150. It was manufactured, initially by immigrant potters from Continental Europe, using a fast wheel at workshops around Torksey, Lincolnshire. While not having the same wide geographic distribution as Stamford ware, the popularity of Torksey ware in York was so high that it was initially thought that York was the original location of manufacture. Stamford ware is one of the earliest forms of lead-glazed ceramics in England, being produced in Stamford, Lincolnshire, between the ninth and thirteenth centuries and widely traded across Britain and the near continent. Early Stamford glazes were lead glazes, suggested by some to be unique among early English glazes since they contain traces of silver but not tin. The glaze could be of a pale yellow, orange, pale green, or smoke blue colour and was applied by using a brush.
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Viking Objects
Silver Gilt Brooch (1989-58/7224)
A circular silver gilt plate brooch with chip carved decoration of a winged creature. The creature may be a griffin. It is enmeshed in fine spiralling interlace. The reverse features a U-shaped catchplate and pin with a spring. This decoration is Mercian in style. For more information on Scandinavian jewellery in England check out our blog: Brooches, Pendants and Pins: Scandinavian Dress Accessories in England.
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Viking Names
Keythorpe
Keythorpe, in the Gartree Hundred of Leicestershire, is an Anglo-Scandinavian hybrid from the Old English male personal name Keyia or Keia and Old Norse þorp ‘a secondary settlement, a dependent outlying farmstead or hamlet’. It was a daughter settlement of Tugby, which it is now a joint parish with. Alternatively, the first element could be the Old English male personal name Cœga, but this seems to be too early of a name to pair with þorp. The Old English element cœg ‘a stone’ has also been suggested; however, the drift ecology does not reflect this postulation.
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Blog Post
Thorfast the Comb Maker
by Erik Grigg (with the help of Janine, Paige, Josh and Hannah!) Thorfast the comb-maker’s workshop before its revamping (c) Erik Grigg In the Viking section of the museum of The Collection in Lincoln there is a reconstruction of a Viking comb maker’s workshop. The comb maker is called Thorfast by the museum staff. This is because in 1867 a comb case was found in Lincoln with a runic inscription on it that reads ‘Thorfast made a good comb’. This case is now in the British Museum (though it has been out on loan a few times). Sprucing up the comb workshop (c) Erik Grigg The learning team decided the area and the comb maker in particular needed a makeover: the display needed a good clean, some of the items had become damaged in the eleven years he has stood there and a few items in the display were rather dated. His costume consisted of a very long tunic that was later medieval in style and very thin with no footwear so we also chose him a new outfit. Now he leans nonchalantly proud of his new gear. On the shelves is his lunch (an apple and some Viking flat bread) as well as replica cooking pots and Stamford ware. When asked about his new look he just said “Thorfast made a good comb!” The new improved comb workshop (c) Erik Grigg The new layout on the left and the old layout on the right (c) Erik Grigg
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Viking Names
Blesi
The male name Blesi is found in two Swedish runic inscriptions and is also recorded as the name of one of the original settlers of Iceland. It was originally a by-name, meaning ‘blaze, white spot on a horse’s forehead’. Blesi is also the first element in the place-name Bleasby, Nottinghamshire.
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Viking Objects
Antler Comb (1986-976)
Fragments of an antler comb found on the site of Little Chester Roman fort (Derventio Coritanorum) in Derby. This comb is of Anglo-Scandinavian type. It consists of a flat plate of antler sandwiched between two strips of antler that are rounded on the exterior part. The whole is fixed together with an iron rivet. Nicks on the centre plate show that the teeth of the comb were cut after the three plates had been constructed and fixed.
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Viking Objects
Coin of Cnut the Great (LEIC-B1F8EA)
This coin is an example of a Quatrefoil type silver penny of Cnut, minted in Stamford or Norwich by the moneyer Thurstan. Minting coins was a way of controlling the means of exchange within a kingdom and one which created a more easily administered standardized system of trade. Moreover, the coins themselves were often used as propaganda, portraying symbols and statements that gave off a desired message. The Vikings later used the minting of coins to legitimise their own rule.
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Viking Names
Ref
Refr is a fairly common male name in the Viking world. It is found in two Swedish runic inscriptions and may originally have been a nickname, as it means ‘fox’. It forms the first element of Revesby, Lincolnshire.
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Viking Names
Sandi
Sandi is either a short form for names in Sand- or an original byname from Old Norse sandr ‘sand’. A single instance of Sandi is recorded as a byname in West Scandinavia. It is also recorded in Sweden. Sandi is also the first element in the place-name Saundby, Nottinghamshire.
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Viking Objects
Repton Stone (1989-59/1165)
The Repton Stone, as it is now known, was found in a pit near the eastern window of the Church of St Wystan, Repton, Derbyshire in 1979. It was originally carved on all four faces, but recognisable detail remains only on two of them. The Repton Stone is a section of a sandstone cross shaft carved on one side with a mounted armed figure (Face A), on the other with a monstrous creature eating the heads of two people (Face B). It was broken Face A: A moustachioed armed figure on horseback with sword and shield raised in the air is carved on this face. The horse is very clearly a stallion. Incised decoration, where the design is scratched into the surface, shows that the rider was depicted wearing armour and carrying a second weapon at his waist, perhaps a seax (knife or dagger). The armour was probably intended to be mail although the carving suggests scale. The mounted man appears to be wearing a diadem, suggesting that he was of high rank. He is wearing a pleated tunic under his armour, and has cross-gartered legs. The reins of the horse are looped over his right arm. Elements of the tack are clearly visible. Face B: This face would have been on the side of the cross. The monstrous creature on this face consists of a snake-like body with the face of a human being. The serpent beast appears to be devouring the heads of the two human figures that embrace in front of it. The serpent may be a representation of the Hellmouth devouring souls. The pit the stone was found in probably dates to the eleventh century or early twelfth century. However, the cross was probably much earlier in date, being broken up close to the time it was deposited in the pit. It is probable that the cross was made before the Viking camp in 873/4 because the monastery that stood on this site before the Vikings was not refounded after the Vikings adopted Christianity. The presence of this cross at the site of a Viking camp shows that Repton was an important place before the Vikings made it their temporary abode. This may have been one reason that the Vikings chose Repton for one of their camps, although its proximity to the River Trent would also have been an important factor. The Vikings used waterways to access the interior of the country, so it is not surprising to find their winter camps beside navigable rivers.
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Viking Names
Foremark
Foremark, in the Repton and Gresley Hundred of Derbyshire, is a Scandinavian compound formed from the Old Norse elements forn ‘old’ and verk ‘work’. Thus, ‘old fortification’. The element verk undoubtedly was used in the Danelaw to describe a military or defensive structure; however, the element does not appear to be found in Scandinavian place-names. The place-name corresponds to the Old English place-name type Aldwark ‘old fortification’. One Aldwark is located in the Wirksworth Hundred of Derbyshire, and is situated near The Street, a Roman road, and Portway. Similarly a short distance east of Wall Hill and Foremark are raised earth formations, which perhaps could be the site of the original fortification. Furthermore, Foremark is very close to a known Great Heathen Army winter camp at Repton. Recent work by Dr Catrine Jarman has raised the possibility that Foremark is somehow related to that site, as outlined in a 2019 television programme, Britain’s Viking Graveyard.