Viking Routes into Wirral

Most of the Norwegian Vikings came to Wirral via Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Scottish Isles, with many coming in 902AD with Ingimund, after their expulsion from Ireland.

The ancient chronicles report also significant numbers of Danish Vikings in Wirral. They may have come with the Norwegians from Ireland, but Professor Gillian Fellows-Jensen at the University of Copenhagen has made an interesting suggestion of them coming from their stronghold in Yorkshire based on the route shown in the map below. (The dots on the map show all the place names ending in "by".) The Danes were also know to have raided and captured Chester in 893AD - and it is possible that some may have stayed behind in Wirral after this period.

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