BOW and District Historical Society members and visitors can hear a talk at their April meeting from Derek Gore, an archaeologist, about Vikings in the West Country.

His talk will cover Viking conquest, the fall of kingdoms, raids, hoards, metalwork, stone sculptures and place names, and how the Vikings contributed to the diversity and the development of the West Country - an area stretching from Dorset all the way to Cornwall.

The South West coastline with its many estuaries, including the Teign and the Exe, offered opportunities for easy landfall to the highly manoeuvrable shallow-draft Viking ships, bringing scope for the invaders to seize, first land and even eventually political power.

In 1001AD they got as far as Exeter.

The talk will take place at Bow Village Hall on Monday, April 22, at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start.

Everyone is welcome. Enquiries can be made to 01363 82468. BDHS Annual Membership of £15 includes free entry to talks, free to people under 18. Visitors £4. Tea/coffee biscuits included.