Are remains under pub from Viking Ship

Wood samples found in the beer garden of The Railway pub in Meols have been sent for analysis to discover if they are from a Viking ship.

Archaeologists remove possible remains of a Viking ship

Around 100 bore holes were dug recently in an attempt to find out whether or not the vessel, believed to be a wooden clinker, is underneath. It is thought it could date from a time when Meols was a vibrant seaport and had a large Scandinavian community.

It has now been revealed that ancient wood samples and metal were found and have been sent away to Norway for carbon dating.

The origins of the mystery were explained to presenter Steve Evans who visited The Railway Pub and spoke with descendants of Jack known as John McRae Snr, who witnessed it being exposed during building work more than 80 years ago.

(L to R) Andrew & Karen McRae with David Allan chatting to Steve

David Allan, Director of Wirral Archaeology, who have been working on the project with the University of Nottingham, said: “It goes back to 1938 when they were building a new pub and were knocking the old Railway down.

“The workmen were under pressure, because in those days when one pub was closed and another one was being built to replace it, when the old pub closed the new one had to open on the same day otherwise they’d lose their licence.

“When they were digging the foundations of the new pub, the workmen came across what they thought was a very old boat, but the architects of the new pub said, ‘we don’t want the archaeologists involved, cover it up’.

“So, they covered it up, but not before Jack McRae had made a wonderful drawing of what he had seen, what he had found including the depths, and a little segment of what he thought was the boat. That drawing ended up in Liverpool Museum and is the basis for this whole archaeological investigation.”

Jack McRae who discovered the remains in 1938, snapped a bit off and took it home

Jack’s granddaughter, Karen McRae, said the story has been folklore in her family ever since: “When I was a small girl, he used to tell us about it and as I got older obviously my dad would carry on the conversation.

“Apparently my granddad did come back after they’d all left work and snapped a bit of the boat off – I am now trying to find it!”

The issue came to the forefront again in the mid-2000s when Karen’s dad – John McRae – raised it with the archaeology department at Liverpool University, where it had been registered, but forgotten about.

Karen showing the photo of her dad marking the spot where his dad Jack found remains in 1938

Since then, it has become one of five projects for Wirral Archaeology Community Interest Company, resulting in the work last month.

The team drafted in archaeologist Charlie Jones, who has spent many years researching the Battle of Fulford in 1066. He has been joined by Professor Stephen Harding, a scientist who is an acknowledged expert on Viking settlements in Wirral.

David Allan revealed that their search has been a success: “After a week of investigation we have discovered bits of ancient wood which almost certainly have come from the boat, and also metal at quite a depth which could possibly have been the nails that might have held the boat together.”

He believes it is unlikely the boat is salvageable due to it being uncovered in 1938 and subsequently exposed to the air. Also, It would cost millions of pounds to raise even if it was intact.

He added: “The air plus the bacteria that it contained has probably destroyed or rotted the wood, so it’s not in very good condition I am afraid. I don’t think we’ll be lifting it. It’s just good to know that it is there, and the samples will tell us quite a lot of information about it.”

The result of the carbon dating, which is being carried out in Norway, is expected in May. Other analysis is being carried out at the University of Nottingham who apparently helped fund the project.