“Helping to put Wirral on the Map”
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November 2011: Awarded by King Harald V to Stephen Harding - Den Kongelige Norske Fortjensorden: Knight of the 1st class.
“For outstanding service to Norway”. Investiture by the Ambassador at a special ceremony in Liverpool, March 2012, and conferred by the King at the Palace in Oslo, September 2012.
“I have long been an admirerof your tireless advocacy for the case of Wirral's viking heritage, and for the Wirral itself” .. Carla Phillips, Wirhalh Skip Felag, June 2011
Early: 1955 – born North Wirral, both parents from very old Wirral families. Mother’s side (from Lingham – lyngholm near Meols – melr) - goes right back to the Stanleys (Earls of Derby) of Storeton Hall(Sir John served in the courts of Richard II and Henry III). And a 14th century Harding was accused of killing a dog and damaging hedges in Neston - Nestún (found not guilty!) – Cheshire Trailbaston Proceedings of 1353. 1976 – got interested in Vikings in Wirral and the north west whilst revising for finals degree in Physics at Oxford – discovered 1. Scandinavian England by F.T. Wainwright on College (Pembroke) library bookshelf, 2. my football team Tranmere was a Viking name. 3. Ever since Viking times a Harding is someone from Hordaland/Hardanger – the wife of Harald Hårfagre was a Harding - and the Harding-fele is the national musical instrument in Norway. This was enough to get me interested!
Websites
Major Discoveries 1. Battle of Brunanburh – made the suggestion that “Dingesmere” in the Anglo Saxon poem was related to the Thing of Thingwall “the Things mere”: checked out by Paul Cavill of the English Place Name Society and co-published in 2004 in the Journal of the English Place Name Society. This, together with the fact that Brunanburh is the old name for Bromborough means the discussion amongst scholars is not “where the battle took place” but “where in Wirral the battle took place”. Finding covered in the Times and Independent in December 2004, BBC News at One and Radio 4 and featured in ITV Lost Treasures 1.
2. Rediscovery of old Clinker vessel, possibly Nordic, under pub in Meols: led Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) team that made the rediscovery, and published in 2007 in the Anglo-Norse Review. Finding covered in the Times, Independent, Daily Mirror, Scandinavian and American press, BBC News 24, NRK, and Radio 5, and ITV Lost Treasures Series 2.
3. Discovery with Mark Jobling and coworkers of strong (up to 50%) Norse ancestry in Wirral and neighbouring West Lancashire based on Y-chromosome testing of men with surnames present in these regions prior to 1600. Published in 2008 in Molecular Biology and Evolution and in 2010 in Viking DNA The Wirral and West Lancashire Project. Finding covered in the Guardian, BBC News, NRK, the Scandinavian Press and ITV Lost Treasures Series 3.
Projects Instigated 1. Vikings in Wirral project – instigated the “Wirral and its Viking Heritage” book project published in 2000 (with Paul Cavill and Judith Jesch) and “Ingimunds Saga” with Magnus Magnusson also published in 2000
2. Re-introduction of a “St. Olave’s Day” service at St. Olave’s, Chester in 2001 and 2002. Led to the idea of an annual St. Olave’s pilgrimage, realised in 2008. Part of the 1100th anniversary celebrations for 2002 instigated entirely by myself
3. The Dingesmere project, 2004 – based on my idea of the possible connection with Thingwall
4. The GPR survey of the “Meols Pub Boat”. Working with Wirral Police (PC Tim Baldock) and Geofizz Ltd and Mr. John McRae
5. The genetic survey of Wirral and West Lancashire –I set up team involving Mark Jobling, Judith Jesch and others in 2002, funded by a prestigious Watson-Crick DNA anniversary Grant of £6000 from the BBSRC.
6. Vikings in Wirral website, e-learning facility for Wirral Schools. Realised, working with the Wirral Learning Grid and Mike McCartney and launched, December 2006. Featured on the Times Educational Supplement and BBC Radio Merseyside.
7. The Neston Viking cross reconstruction - this was my vision in 2006 and with Peter Rossiter, Church manager a team was set up in 2007 (including Martin Cooper at the NCC Liverpool and Roger White at Ironbridge Archaeology) – realised in September 2010.
8. Schools link up between Thingwall Primary School and Tingvol Ungdomskole, Norway
9. Meols Park Viking board project – designed and realised in 2010. Forms the start point of the Wirral Viking Heritage Trail. Working with Roy Shuttleworth and Rt. Hon. Esther McVey MP.
10. Wirral News Viking Blog (April 2010) – with Dr. David Griffiths.
11. Genetic survey of “gamle Norge” – old Norway – to see which of 10 regions of Norway – based on Y-chromosomes from men from old families from those areas – matches closest to Wirral and West Lancashire. Working with Mark Jobling (researcher Turi King), Harald Lovvik and Sigurd Aase. Results expected 2012.
12. Initiated twinning/link up between Wert Kirby Chamber of Commerce and Karmoy
13. Struck deal to bring the Draken Harald Fairhair to Liverpool/Wirral in 2013
Awards/Named Lectures
1. Royal Society of Chemistry Medal, 1991
2. DSc University of Oxford, December 2002
3. Inaugural Professorial Lecture December 2002- sellout,
4. Ormskirk Advertiser Lecturer (West Lancashire Heritage Association) 2002 and 2003–both sellouts
5. St. Bridgets Centre Appeal Lecture (sell-out 259 people)
6. Wirral Bookfest Lecturer October 2009 (Wallasey), 2010 (Bebington) – 2011 (Birkenhead) - all sell outs.
7. St. George’s Day Lecturer (West Lancashire Heritage Association), 2012.
Books 1.Wirral and its Viking Heritage (P. Cavill, S.E. Harding & J. Jesch). English Place Names Society (149pp) 2000 {ISBN 0-904889-59-9}
2. Ingimund’s Saga: Norwegian Wirral (S.E. Harding, with foreword by Magnus Magnusson). Countyvise (222pp). 2000 {ISBN 1-871201-09-8}.2nd revised hardback edition, 2006, (ISBN-10: 1901231607; ISBN-13: 978-1901231601)
3. Viking Mersey (S.E. Harding), Countyvise 240 pages, 2000 {ISBN 1901231 34 8)
4. Viking DNA. The Wirral and West Lancashire Project(S.E. Harding, M.A. Jobling & T.E. King) Nottingham University Press (166pp). 2010 {ISBN 190728494X}
5. Vikingblod: spor av Vikinger I Nordvest-England (S.E. Harding & S. Vaagan), Genesis Forlag, Oslo. 2011.
6. In Search of the Vikings (edited by S.E. Harding & D. Griffiths), Nottingham University Press (in preparation: mss due 9/2011)
7. In Searcg of the Battle of Brunanburh {P. Cavill and S.E. Harding}, Nottingham University Press (in preparation mss due 12/2011)
Academic Publications 1. Locations and Legends. Article by Steve Harding on the location of names and features in Wirral, mapping the distribution of some Norse-derived names, and looks at some tenacious Victorian legends. From Wirral and its Viking Heritage, ed. P. Cavill, S. Harding & J. Jesch, 2000, pages 108-124.
2. Revisiting Dingesmere.Journal of the English Place Name Society, October 2004, volume 36, pages 25-38. Article by Paul Cavill, Stephen Harding and Judith Jesch suggesting a solution to a mystery concerning the Battle of Brunanburh: Dingesmere = Thing’s mere or marr.
3. The Wirral Carrs and Holms. Journal of the English Place Name Society, December 2007 volume 39, pages 45-57. Article by Steve Harding on the distribution of the carrs (ON kjarr) and holms (ON holmr) in Wirral - old Norse names associated with marshland - and their significance in terms of dialect (and in relation to the total absence of corresponding English names for the same features) - and possible relevance to the Battle of Brunanburh.
4. The Neston cross: an exercise in community engagement. Article by Roger White, Steve Harding and Martin Cooper in Vikings in the 21st century (J. Jesch, C. Lee, J. Carroll and C. Callow, eds). University of Birmingham 17-18 December, 2007. Use of the latest scanning laser technologies to help construct a replica of a remarkable piece.
5. Excavating past population structures by surname-based sampling: the genetic legacy of the Vikings in northwest England. Molecular Biology and Evolution, February 2008 volume 25, pages 301-309. Article by Georgina Bowden, Patricia Balaresque, Turi King, Ziff Hansen, Giles Pergl-Wilson, Emma Hurley, Stephen Roberts, Patrick Waite, Judith Jesch, Abigail Jones, Mark Thomas, Stephen Harding and Mark Jobling.
6. Wirral: folklore and locations: Article by Steve Harding in The Battle of Brunanburh (ed. Michael Livingston), Exeter University Press, pp351-364, April 2011.
Popular Magazine articles 1.The Norsemen Re-Take Thingwall. Wirral Champion, July 2003, p61 (Report on the 1st Icelandic tour)
2. Heathen and Higgin, Letter by Steve Harding, and Ingimund's Saga, Letter by Anne Beer, Wirral Champion, November 2003, p 70.
3. On the Net: The Vikings. BBC History Magazine, May, 2004, page 71. Chris Moss and Steve Harding review Viking web sites.
4. Viking Wirral and the Battle of Brunanburh. Battlefield, August, 2004, pages 22, 23.
5. Its all in a name. BBC History Magazine, January 2005, volume 6, no.1., page 61. Article by Robin Attar in the Journals section, reviewing the recent publication in the Journal of the English Place Name Society about Dingesmere and the Battle of Brunanburh.
6. If you are looking for the Vikings - looking no further! Teaching and Learning Magazine, January/February 2006, page 64. Feature article by Juliet Smith on the forthcoming launch this year of the Web Resource 'Vikings in Wirral'.
7. Vikings nice blokes really, Times Education Supplement Magazine, 19 January 2007 pages 54-55. Feature by Stephen Manning on the launch of the Web Resource ‘Vikings in Wirral’, with Mike McCartney.
8. Scandinavian Invasion, Tranmere Rovers Official Programme (Tranmere v Chesterfield, 2nd March 2007), p21 &36. Article by Tony Coombes about Tranmere’s growing band of Scandinavian supporters.
9. Viking Time Travellers. Historic cross at Neston to be restored. Wirral Champion, October 2007. Article on the stone fragments belonging to 10th Century Viking crosses at Neston.
10. A Viking ship at Meols? Current Archaeology, December 2007, volume 213, pages 4-5. Article by Lisa Westcott about an intriguing vessel buried under the Railway Inn car park, Meols.
11. Viking boat found? Article in the Anglo Norse Review, Winter 2007, pages 27-30.
12. The Viking Roots of North-west England. Current Archaeology, April 2008, volume 217, page 7. News item about the publication of the paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution.
13. Norways “colony” of Wirral, Liverpool. Appendix article in Torgrim Titlestad’s book Viking Norway, Saga Bok, Stavanger, 2008, pages 371-379.
14. Looking for Vikings in north-west England. Two articles in British Archaeology (Nov/Dec 2008, pages 18-25) by David Griffiths and by Steve Harding and Mark Jobling. Web link.
16. St. Olav’s Viking Walk. The Norseman, January 2009, pages 46-53. Article by Steve Harding and Dan Robinson on the Wirral-Chester “Olsok” Viking walk.
17. Viking Wirral and Viking Genes. Heswall Magazine, February 2010, pages 24-25.
Lectures 2000 – March 13th - lecture to Heswall Conservation Society;2001 –February 23rd Launch lecture for both books at Birkenhead Town Hall, Guests the Ambassador of Iceland, Mayor of Trondheim, Director of Cultural Affairs of Tromdheim, Director of Cultural Affairs of the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the Mayoress of Wirral; March 10th “Meet the author”, Linghams bookshop , Heswall and lecture; April 2nd Birkenhead Rotary Club (lunchtime) “the Viking Story”; May 8th Birkenhead Town Hall “Viking Wirral”; May 10th Ellesmere Port Library “Viking Wirral”; June 14th/15thWirral Show, Wallasey; August 11thSt. Olave’s Lecture Grosvenor Museum “Viking Wirral”. 2002 - January 26th, Liverpool: Lecture to Merseyside Young Archaeologists, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock; March 12th, Hoylake, 12noon: Talk to the Inner Wheel Inter Club: "Wirral Viking Heritage", Kings Gap Hotel, Hoylake (ladies only!); April 18th, Birkenhead, 7.30pm: Lecture to the Birkenhead History Society "Wirral's Viking Past", Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Road; Wednesday May 1st, Organised 1100th anniversary Part I. Thurstaston, daybreak at Thor's Stone: 1100th anniversary celebration with the Mersey Morris Men, the children of Thingwall Primary School (dressed as Vikings), the Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral and guests from Trondheim Kommune, Norway (the Deputy Mayor, the Director of Cultural Affairs and the Director of Olavfestdagene), the Mayor of Ellesmere Port and Neston and members of the Wirhalh Skip Fehlag (re-enactment group). Followed by a Civic breakfast at Leasowe Castle and Reception/Dinner at Birkenhead Town Hall; June 11th, West Kirby, 8pm: Lecture to Hoylake and District Civic Society "Wirral's Viking Heritage", United Reform Church Hall, Meols Drive, West Kirby; June 28th, Thingwall Primary School, unveiling of the 1100th anniversary mural by the Norwegian Consul for Liverpool; August 10th, Chester, 10.45am-4.30pm, Lectures at the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, followed by a service, St. Olave's Church Chester, led by Norway's St.Olave pilgrimsprest Kjell Skartseterhagen (Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim). Dignatories attending include the Lord Mayor of Chester, the Mayoress of Wirral & her Consort, and the Mayor and Mayoress of Ellesmere Port and Neston; Sept 19th, Thornton Hough, 12.30pm: Lecture to Heswall & District Rotary Club: "Genetic search for Wirral Vikings", Grange Restaurant; September 27th, Bromborough, 7pm. Lecture, Bromborough Society: "Wirral's Viking Past", Acre Lane School, Bromborough; November 13th, Hurlston Hall Golf Club, Ormskirk, 7.30pm. Lecture "Blood of North West Vikings", West Lancashire Heritage Association; December 10th, University of Nottingham. Inaugural Professoriate lecture "Macromolecular Interactions with Uppsala and Skaus Vikings", 7pm; December 11th, The Mayer Trust, Bebington Wirral. "Blood of Mersey Vikings", Civic Centre, Bebington, 8pm.
2003- January 25th, Runcorn Priory, 1pm: Lecture to Merseyside Young Archaeologists; Wednesday February 26th, Nottingham. Lecture: "Blood of Scouse Vikings", School of Archaeology, University of Nottingham, 4.30pm; Thursday March 13th, Wallasey Library. "Blood of Wallasey Vikings", Lecture to Wallasey Historical Society; Tuesday March 18th, 7.30pm, Lecture to Friends of Storeton Woods, Victoria Hall, Village Road, Higher Bebington; Saturday 26th April, 1st Icelandic tour of the Wirral and West Lancashire. A party of 45 Icelandic tourists is taken round some of the Viking sites, starting off with a lecture at Thurstaston Visitor centre; Wednesday 30th April, 7.30pm (Wolverhampton) "Up the A41 with Jason Koumas and Sir Gawain: North West Mercia and Scouse Vikings"; Saturday 10th, Sunday 11th May, The Newark Show: “East Midlands Viking link”; 18th June. 2nd Icelandic tour and lecture of the Wirral and West Lancashire. 28th June. 3rd Icelandic tour of 45 tourists; November 19th 2003,Athenaeum Luncheon Lecture, "Viking Mersey", Athenaeum, Church Alley, Liverpool;November 19th. Ormskirk Advertiser Series Lecture "Blood of West Lancashire Vikings", Hurlston Hall, 7.30pm; December 11th. "Blood of Wirral Vikings", Neston Historical Society, 7.30pm.
2004 - January 23rd, "Vikings in Lancashire" Formby Civic Centre, 8pm; Saturday April 3rd, 10am-3pm. Battlefields Trust Event "Viking Wirral and the Battle of Brunanburh". Starts with cup of coffee and talk at Thurstaston Visitor Centre, followed by tour, led by Professor Steve Harding and Brenda Rampling of the Trust; Sunday April 4th, 1pm. Poulton Hall, Bromborough, Wirral. Talk and unveiling of the Viking Sculpture "The Brunanburgh Viking" by Steve Harding. The sculpture, was created by Wirral sculpturess Sue Sharples and was commissioned by the Lancelyn-Green family, who date back on the Wirral to the 11th century. The unveiling marked the opening of the Gardens. 2005 - January 20th, "Merseysides Viking Heritage: DNA analysis in Archaeology" (Merseyside Archaeological Society). Liverpool University Department of Continuing Education, 7.30pm.; April 2nd, Melrose Hall, Hoylake, Wirral, 10.30am (after AGM of Friends of Hoylake and Meols Gardens and Open Spaces). "Wirral's Viking Seaport and Norse Heritage".; Wednesday evening, October 12th, Thorsteinn's farmstead - Thurstaston. West Wirral Rotary Club Charter Anniversary Dinner: “Viking Genes About!”2006 - Monday September 11th: Presentation of 1453/4 ancient Charter to "The Wro" (Old Norse "vra" - "corner") wine bar; Tuesday December 12th: "Vikings in Wirral" web resource for Schools and Adult Education is being officially launched by the Wirral Learning Grid with Mike McCartney (Wirral's Cultural Ambassador) at the Belmont Suite, Tranmere Rovers (7-9pm). The new hardback edition of Ingimund's Saga will also be launched.2007 -Tuesday 27th February, University of Chester History Society “Vikings in Wirral” (7.30pm) Parkgate Road Campus, Lecture by Stephen Harding; Saturday July 28th. Short talk and organised WIRRAL VIKING CHURCHES HERITAGE WALK between St. Bridget’s West Kirby and St. Mary and St. Helen’s in Neston. 8 miles (12km); Monday, 22nd October. North Wirral Rotary Club, Thurstaston: Vikings in Wirral; Tuesday 27th (Lancashire Day), David Lloyd Leisure Centre, Knowsley. Lecture as part of celebration of the publication of the final results of the 5-year Viking genetic survey of Wirral and West Lancashire. Thursday 29th November – Sunday 2nd December. Helped co-organise and gave talk to ICE2007: Celebrating Liverpool and Merseysides Cultural links with the Nordic Countries; Tuesday 18th December, “The Neston Viking cross – an example of community engagement” joint lecture with Roger White, Vikings in the 21st Century, University of Birmingham.2008 - Tuesday 5th February 2008, St. Bridget’s Community Centre, West Kirby, 7.30pm. First Tuesday St. Bridget’s Centre Appeal Lecture: Using Modern Genetics with Old Surnames to Excavate Wirral’s Viking Past. A lecture on the the Wirral and West Lancashire Viking DNA Project 2002-2007 – attended by 259, filling the church to standing capacity only; Wednesday April 23rd, National Science Building (Askja), University of Iceland, Reykjavik. Seminar by Prof. Stephen Harding 4pm: FISHING FOR ICELANDIC GENES IN OLD LIVERPOOL: The Saga of Norwegian Settlers in Merseyside around 900 AD.; Wednesday 4th June. AGM Talk, ITPAS (Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society), St. Chad’s Church, Irby 7.15pm. A Viking Heritage Trail for Wirral – a lecture by Steve Harding; Saturday July 26th 2008. Short talk and lead Olsok08: WIRRAL – CHESTER VIKING PILGRIMAGE. This year’s Olsok Pilgrimage/ Viking Churches Heritage Walk to commemorate St. Olav Haraldsson, patron saint of Norway and St. Olav’s Day, from St. Mary and St. Helen’s in Neston (Nesstún) to St. Olave’s in Chester (13 miles or 20km); Wednesday 12th November 2008, Family History Society of Cheshire West Kirby Group, 2pm, Westbourne Hall Community Centre, West Kirby. Scandinavian Wirral: The Wirral and West Lancashire Viking DNA Project 2002-2007; Tuesday, 25th November 2008. NICE08 Schools DNA Workshops (Bishop Wilson School, Neston at 11am; Lady Immaculate School, Everton Valley at 2pm); Tuesday, 25th November 2008. LiNC Talk: “DNA and the Vikings of Old Merseyside”. Speaker: Stephen Harding. Venue: Scandinavian Church; Wednesday 26th November 2008 11am-1pm. Short talk and organised the Scandinavian Consuls “Viking DNA Challenge”. The Scandinavian Consuls in Liverpool (Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic and Swedish) are all from the UK – but whose (Y-chromosomal) DNA is the most Viking? Peter Copland, Norwegian consul, challenges his colleague.; Wednesday 26th November 2008 2pm-5pm. “How much of a Viking are you?”:Organised DNA testing event for members of the Public. Venue: Scandinavian Church, Park Lane, Liverpool. This was covered by ITV1 Granada Reports, 26th November 2008 (3 min) and BBC Northwest Tonight.2009 - Wednesday 4th February 2009. Steve Harding gave a presentation at the Grosvenor Museum Chester (hosted by the Chester Archaeological Society) at 7.30pm: “Fishing for Vikings in the gene pool of old Merseyside”; Tuesday 17th March 2009. North Wirral Probus Club, Kings Gap Hoylake (Probus members only). Talk about the Viking Heritage Trail in Wirral.;Monday October 12th, Wallasey Central Library, 2.30-4pm. Wirral Bookfest Talk: Viking Wirral and Viking Genes; Saturday October 24th, Lytham St. Annes: Council for British Archaeology North-West Regional Group Conference, Lecture on the Wirral and West Lancashire Viking DNA project.2010 – Short talk by Steve Harding and UNVEILING OF THE MEOLS PARK VIKING INFORMATION BOARD – by new Wirral West MP Esther McVeigh. Saturday 15th May, 2010, Meols Park 11.30am; Saturday July 17th 2010: “Wirral Vikings” – talk at the Archaeological Festival Day, Tam O’Shanter Farm, Bidston, Wirral.; Saturday July 31st 2010: short talk and lead St. OLAVE’s Wirral – Chester VIKING WALK AND PILGRIMAGE. 13 mile walk/pilgrimage to commemorate St. Olav Haraldsson, patron saint of Norway and St. Olav’s Day will go from Neston, Wirral to St. Olave’s in Chester; 14th October – Wirral bookfest, Bebington Library “Viking Wirral and the Battle of Brunanburh”; 16thOctober, Vinland Congress, Chicago “Viking DNA”; Saturday 20th November 2010. Organize (with Liz Royles) and give opening talk (10am) at Chester Viking Conference: "In Search of the Vikings", Grosvenor Museum, Chester; 5pm Launch of the book VIKING DNA. The Wirral and West Lancashire Project. Tuesday 11th October 2011. Wirral Bookfest event, Birkenhead Central Library: “Viking Wirral and the Dragon Harald Fairhair Longship project”, 2pm. 14th-15th October Gothenburg Museum Anniversary Conference – 2 invited lectures.
Forthcoming Lectures: Monday, January 9th, 2.30pm Liverpool Victoria Boat Club:Viking Wirral and the Dragon Harald Fairhair Longship project. Wednesday 1st February 2012: Viking Wirral and the Battle of Brunanburh. St. Bridget’s Church West Kirby 7pm.Friday 20th April 2012. Viking DNA in Lancashire. Lancashire Archaeological Society, Fulwood United Reformed Church, Symonds Road, Fulwood, Preston, 7.45pm.Sunday 22nd April 2012:Ormr, Skjaldmarr, Tharaldr & co!.St. Georges Day Lunch speech, West Lancashire Heritage Association, Hurlston Hall Golf Club, Scarisbrick, 12.30. Monday 18th June 2012. Viking Wirral and the Dragon Harald Fairhair Longship project, 7.30pm, Greasby Library, Wirral.