A Shropshire blacksmith is part of a team invited to Denmark to forge an authentic anchor for a reconstructed Viking ship.
Rowan Taylor, based in Ellesmere, described the trip to Aggersborg as a “dream work assignment” after years of researching ancient anchors and their forging techniques.
Instead of using modern steel or Victorian‑era wrought iron, the team will employ bloomery iron, the same material utilized by Viking smiths centuries ago.
Internationally recognised bloomery expert Jens Olesen is leading the project, and Rowan nearly refused to collaborate when he first asked Olesen to design the anchor.
The finished piece will be mounted on the Huld, a recreated Viking vessel based at Aggersborg.
The initiative originated from conversations at the close of Denmark’s historic market season between Olesen and the Aggersborg Viking Craft Meeting.
During those discussions Olesen began considering a larger bloomery‑iron forging project, recalling his prior collaboration with Taylor in Ireland.
Taylor, who lives near Welshpool, told the BBC that this constitutes a “very exciting” experimental archaeology endeavour.
“This presents a remarkable opportunity to validate several observations I have made,” he remarked.
“Our goal is to demonstrate that the joinery methods are accurate and produce a functional object rather than a mere exhibit behind glass,” he added.
“Having this anchor on a ship will allow us to assess its performance… we can then compare the resulting data with archaeological records and ongoing research.”
The completed eighth‑century authentic anchor is projected to weigh approximately 10 kilograms and stand 70 cm tall.
