Cumbria’s Viking settlement is set to host a crafts festival next month.
Now in its third year, the event at Moorforge will be held on Saturday May 3, Sunday May 4 and Monday May 5.
Visitors can expect to experience a Viking market village, which will host around 35 different craftspeople at the settlement in Gilcrux, near Cockermouth.
It will focus on ancient technology crafts that you would expect from the Viking age, using a variety of natural sustainable materials such as wood, textiles, metal, leather, bone and willow.
With these materials you can see artisan folk hand crafting historical items such as jewellery, coins, ornaments, clothing, various everyday use items such as metal implements, baskets, pottery and wooden furniture and more.
Craftspeople will set up historically authentic market tents and be in period early Medieval dress.
Historical archery, children’s Viking roleplay and much more is on offer for youngsters.
The Saturday evening will see a folk music session in the great longhouse around the fire, hosted by the resident folk group. People are welcome to join in and get a taste of what it may have been like times past in the community longhouse.
Organisers said: “A recent discovery in the local area has brought to light a late Viking age longhouse within a few miles of the Moorforge Viking settlement, on the working farm of High Tarn – it is the largest Viking building discovered in the UK.
“Archaeological digs have uncovered the remains of a hogback longhouse building that is the same style structure as Moorforge longhouse that’s in development.
“So visiting the craft festival will give you a great opportunity to step back in time and experience what it may have been like in the area within the Viking age, connecting us with our rich local history, heritage and crafts.”
We found out about Moorforge last year – you can read our story here.
