Roseberry Topping's Viking Heritage
Roseberry Topping is such a dramatic landmark that it was regarded as a sacred hill dedicated to the Nordic god Odin by the Vikings who settled in the Tees Valley in large numbers during the early medieval period.
The Vikings gave the area many of its place names, including Roseberry Topping, which is one of only a handful of known pagan names in England. "Roseberry" came from Old Norse 'Odin's bjarg' (Odin's rock or crag). The name changed successively to Othensberg, Ohenseberg, Ounsberry and Ouesberry before finally settling on Roseberry. "Topping" is an adaptation of 'toppen', an Old Norse word for a hill.
The naming of the hill followed a well-established pattern in continental Europe of hills and mountains being named after Odin. Odin was the 'god of gods' and the heathens worshipped and made offerings to him at Roseberry Topping.
Professor Stephen Harding who is one of the leading figures in genetic studies into Viking ancestry in the UK, said:
"The Tees Valley appears to have been hugely important in Viking times as the northern boundary of the Viking settlement area in the North East. North of the Tees, or Bernica as it used to be known, has not left many clues of Viking settlements. However, south of the Tees – or Deira as it was called – shows strong evidence of Vikings from the high density of Viking place names and a number of archaeological finds."
Odin's Glow is presented by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and produced by Magnetic Events in partnership with culture10, Visit Tees Valley, The National Trust and The North York Moors National Park Authority. The bus travel is sponsored by Arriva North East.
Forming part of North East England's world-class programme of festivals and events, developed by culture10, Odin's Glow is funded by Arts Council England, One North East and Northern Rock Foundation.
