A Viking Medieval Market Day is coming to Formby

Organisers looking forward to their third event in the village.

A Viking Medieval Market day is coming to Formby on September 25th for the third year running with over 50 stalls.

The Medieval Market Day was launched three years ago by the Fornebei Herfolk Group, who made it their aim to promote and raise awareness of Formby's history as a Viking settlement from as early as 907AD. The event is being organised by TV Historian and author, Mark Olly, who also has experience in running the Medieval Market Day in Warrington and Stockport. Admission is just £1 for all ages and children under five can go free.

Visitors can enjoy storytelling from a skold and weaving from a hand loom at Formby Viking Day Hordes of Medieval and Viking Mauraders will be returning to Formby or Fornebei for their now annual Viking and Medieval Market Day.

The third annual ‘Viking and Medieval Market Day’ will take place next month, in the grounds of Our Lady's Gild Hall. Tony Higginson, one of the event's organisers, explained some of the background; “There is evidence that Formby is one of the earliest settlements in the country and I, and the people of Formby, are very proud of that and we want to mark that.

“There are 1,100 settlements in the north west of England and as Formby could be the first settlement in England we just wanted to invigorate the history of Formby.

“The entry point to Formby is the River Alt. What a scene that would have been when the Vikings first landed in the area."

Sefton Central Labour MP Bill Esterson joins Viking Festival organisers Mark Olly, Leo Kiolassa and Tony Higginson at last years event.

This year's event will include over 50 stalls of artisan crafts, a Viking Village an authentic Longship as well as Birds of Prey and many activities for all ages. There will be live battle re-enactment, design a shield, coin making and weaving.

Tony Higginson takes on Formby's own Hnefatafi national Champion Tim Bullen, under the watchful eye of grand master Tim Millar.

Tim Millar, the three Hnefatafl (Viking Chess) World Champion will be in attendance for a 'Challenge the Champ' session, we set up a huge 12 foot outdoor board. A 'Thor's Hammer Tournament' will take place at 3pm.

The event will take place on September 25, from 10am to 5pm.

Story and Photo source: Southport Visiter