Farming and Fishing

The Wirral Norsemen were generally a peaceable bunch, despite the attacks on Chester which occurred several years after the settlement.  They were mainly farmers and fishermen.
 Place names such as Gayton (from Old Norse geit meaning goat and tun meaning farmstead) and Storeton (from storr meaning great and tun) show this activity as well as the name Arrowe. Lets consider this name in more detail.

Besides Arrowe Park there are a number of fields in the area with the name such as Bithel's Arrowe and Wharton's Arrowe. Arrowe does not come from bow and arrow but comes from the Old Norse erg or ærgi which means pastureland away from the main farmhouse.  

The Scandinavian farmers and their Wirral decendents used to practice what was called Transhumance - sending their cattle out to the aergi in summer and spring, saving the field or fields near the farmhouse for winter food or fodder for their animals. This practice continued until the 19th century in Wirral and is still followed in Norway today.

Fishing was another major source of feeding the Wirral population, The Dee, Mersey and Irish Sea would have been fished and there are old fishing 'skerries' around the Wirral coastline.

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