Crafting replica Viking shield 'labour of love'

A man who crafted a replica Viking shield in his garden shed before donating it to a museum on the Isle of Man said the process was a "labour of love".

Chris Clayton, who lives in Rotherham and works as an outdoor activity instructor in Nottingham, has a keen interest in Viking history and goes into schools to teach children about the time period.

A regular visitor to the island, he took his inspiration for the replica from a shield found in a Viking burial site in Ballateare, in Jurby, in the 1940s.

The piece of armour, which had been put on display at the House of Manannan in Peel, was made using historically accurate materials and techniques and took eight weeks to complete.

Helping to fuel his interest in the Viking era, Chris said he would visit the museums whilst over to see his parents and sister who live on the island.

The idea for the replica was born after he saw the rare fragments of painted leather from the original Ballateare shield, he said, adding: "I thought I'd be so stoked to have my piece in the museum."

"I just interpreted it in my own mind - knowing what I know about Viking shields.

"I'm not a craftsman by trade, I've learnt by reading Viking sagas and looking at other things people have made - I don't take anything lightly

"This was an absolute labour of love".

He said historical accuracy was an important part of the process in recreating the shield, and research had shown many similar items from the era were bound together by animal glue, mainly from rabbits.

"The problem with rabbit glue is as soon as it gets damp, it degrades so it's not very practical," Chris said.

The process saw him carve the shield from pine wood, using "tanned lambs leather" for the base and "thicker cow leather" for the outer rim of the shield.

After eight weeks of labour in his garden, Chris went to deliver his work to Allison Fox, Curator for Archaeology at Manx National Heritage (MNH).

"It could have gone either of two ways - if she had disappointment on her face, that would have ruined it all [but] I'm pleased to see the work has paid off.," he said.

He said he was "proud" it would give museum visitors the chance "to handle the shield and spur their interest in Viking history".

Chris said, while his latest project had found a new home on the Isle of Man, he had recently been convinced by his wife to convert his loft into a space to store al his other his Viking shields and memorabilia.

"While I was making the shield, my wife said 'I think this is why we've managed to stay married so long because I barely see you'," he joked.

Thanking Chris for gifting the shield to the MNH, Ms Fox said the shield was a "magnificent addition" to the museum.

"The snap-shots of past life on the Isle of Man are all based upon archaeological evidence from the Island, so this shield is perfect," she said.

"We're really pleased that Chris found inspiration in the House of Manannan and very appreciative of his craftmanship - so a huge 'thank you' goes to Chris."

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