The Manx Viking Project is looking to complete a new round of fundraising to move construction into the operational phase.
We speak to founder Chris Hall about how his dream of creating a Viking village from scratch has been progressing since we last caught up with him in December 2022.
Best laid plans
In 2019, Chris Hall purchased four acres of land at Sandygate with the aim of creating the first Viking village on the Isle of Man, which has a rich Norse heritage. The project, however, has faced a series of obstacles since it received planning permission in 2022.
Although Chris had initially tried to develop the project as an independent organization, he faced some resistance and skepticism from certain quarters.
For this reason, a decision was made to reshape the nature of the organization.
"At the beginning of this year, we created a five-person team and applied for charity status," Chris tells The Viking Herald. "As of April of this year, we are now a registered charity."
He hopes the new status will help attract the investment needed to begin building the Viking village itself.
"Fundraising is our major push now," Chris informs us. "Firstly, we need a new vehicle. We have two plantations of spruce and pine, and the landowner said we are welcome to it."
"It would be enough wood to make the Viking village two times over, but we need to be able to transport it here and then store it upon arrival."
With its newly acquired charity status, the Manx Viking Project aims to attract significant funding for its ambitious plans. Photo: The Manx Viking Project
Laying the groundwork
The plans for the Manx Viking Project ultimately include a forge, longhouse, kitchen, and a folkvangr, or "field of the people," where visitors could congregate and events could be held.
However, before building can start, Chris is determined to ensure that all the basic elements are in place.
"Like anything, you need a good foundation, and the vehicle and the building of a storage yard are absolutely critical to the life of the project," Chris explains.
"We need the entrance, the toolshed, and the site workshop this year. Then, hopefully, with some transportation, we can get all the materials we need to build the village itself, ready for spring next year."
"We've also fought against the weather," Chris adds. "The location at Sandygate is very close to the water table, and when the water rises, it makes groundwork very difficult."
"We have lost about ten months' work over the last two winters because the ground was just too wet. We've dug out all the ground, but now we need to fill it with hardcore so we can still drive around in the winter."
Building the right team
Moving forward, Chris is enthused about the team he has around him. "There's a core of myself and Anita Comber; we're the founding directors. She's my best mate, and – this sounds a bit cheesy – advises me on ways of the soul."
"Then we've got Claire and David Manser. Claire is an ex-headmistress and very good at leveling people's heads and advising people. David, her husband, is a financial wizard with a long history in the finance sector."
"There's also a gentleman called Mark Critchley who has helped with fundraising, and a new volunteer, Julie Quayle, who is also doing a lot of work."
"Anita is forever giving me a kick up the derriere and was instrumental in me buying this land in the first place," Chris adds.
"It was either this or buying a unit in an industrial park, and I'm glad I chose this. I've made a few mistakes over the last couple of years, of course."
"It could have been more streamlined, but this is the first time I've attempted this, and the first time it's been attempted on the Isle of Man."
The project's location at Sandygate has been chosen for its historical significance and proximity to water, reflecting true Viking settlement traits. Illustration: The Manx Viking Project
Making history come alive
The Norse settled on the island at the end of the eighth century, while the parliament of the Isle of Man is thought to have been founded by Vikings.
Chris believes, however, that much more could be done to make this history accessible to people, particularly the younger generations.
"I would say that it's a still life of Viking culture on the island; it's not very interactive," Chris tells us.
"We want to get the community involved, especially school children. And I want everyone who helps to have their name on the site so they can come back with their kids 30 years later and show them."
At the same time, Chris is hesitant about inviting more people to the site just yet. "I'm mindful of involving volunteers in the current phase," he says.
"It's technical groundwork – shoveling mud is not great fun, and I don't want to put off our volunteers by bringing them in as slave labor, moving mud around."
"I want them to be involved in the fun part when they get home at the end of the day, and can't stop talking about it."
Clearing and leveling the land at Sandygate are crucial first steps for the Manx Viking Project to begin the construction phase. Photo: The Manx Viking Project
Almost there
Despite the trials and tribulations of recent times, Chris remains fully dedicated to the project and is now hoping to push it toward completion.
"Last year, I quit my full-time job for the government so I could put my time into the project," Chris continues.
"I believe I was put here to make this happen. I've never been interested in money. Wealth, to me, is the admiration and love of people and the feeling that I've done something. I know I'm doing a good thing, and that makes me happy."
"Once the village is built, knowing that kids will be inspired to do arts and crafts, and inspiring the next generation of stonemasons, blacksmiths, farmers, and wood carvers – that's going to be my reward," Chris says.
"Being able to escape to another location – but also escape our era – is also an amazing bit of therapy for people.
"If the project was able to raise 50,000 pounds over the next couple of months, we would be ready to start building the village in the spring," Chris tells us.
"If we fail from there, we would only have ourselves to blame! It's all a catalyst. We just need that initial funding push, a bit of faith in the project, and then we can get the bits we need to start firing it forward."
To find out more about the Manx Viking Project, please visit their website or Facebook page.
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