Viking blood still runs in the veins of many men and women in the north of England, but that's not the only legacy these warriors left behind, says Aileen Scoular.

Ask anyone what a Viking is and they'll describe a tall, fearsome warrior with wild red hair, bared teeth and a horned helmet. But decades of historical research and recent archaeological discoveries have proved otherwise. And nowhere is real Viking history better understood than in the city of York, which was captured by Viking raiders in 866.

Under Viking rule, York developed as an important manufacturing centre. Raw materials flowed into the city from outlying areas, and talented craftsmen turned them into everyday items for sale.

The Jorvik Centre at York (the Viking name for York was Jórvík) is home to a host of artefacts
and exhibitions, including reconstructions of Viking streets and re-enactments of Viking life. So, if you're secretly fascinated by these medieval pirates, this is the place to come.

The real Viking life

‘The Vikings, far from being savage barbarians, had many skills,' says Ben Young of the Jorvik Centre. ‘These included sailing, navigation, weaving, metalwork and trading.' Most Vikings were ordinary men from north-west Europe (Scandinavia) - including farmers, fishermen and animal-trappers - who were too poor to have any helmets, let alone striking headgear decorated with horns!

Initially, their raids were ‘hit-and-run' affairs, at a time when raiding and pillaging was commonplace across Europe. But, over time, those Viking skills were employed to create ingenious weapons, well-designed longboats and effective battle strategies. They soon learned, for example, that monasteries were excellent targets because they were wealthy, poorly defended and well stocked with food.

Keen sailors

No one really knows why the Vikings decided to leave their northerly homelands but, once they started sailing to neighbouring countries, looting wasn't their only aim. They also seized land for farming. The Vikings began to settle in areas of England, the Scottish islands and the coastal regions
of Ireland. Once there, they formed relationships with local women and the children they bore can be linked, via DNA studies, to our modern-day population. A recent study in Merseyside and West Lancashire looked at 100 men with authentic medieval surnames and discovered that their DNA could be specifically linked to Scandinavian ancestry. In fact, the scientists reckon that the population in some parts of north-west England carries up to 50 per cent male Norse origins! Many towns in the north of England also bear names that can be traced back to Viking times. You can usually tell by the bit at the end of the town's name. A town which ends in thorpe, for example, probably started life as an isolated Viking farm, while a name ending in ‘with' (coming from the Viking word ‘vith') would have been located close to a wood. Other endings to look out for include ‘thwaite', which means a meadow, and ‘garth', a Viking word for an enclosure.

Live like a Viking

Even the food we eat is influenced by our Viking visitors. Herring, cod and shellfish were Viking favourites, along with lamb, pork and goat. Meat and fish were preserved by smoking or salting and fruit, like plums and raspberries, was eaten fresh or dried. Honey was spread on bread, as we do now, and also made into an alcoholic drink called mead: ‘A very popular drink in Viking times,' says Young. Pop into the Jorvik Centre and you can try a selection of Viking-style food, including mead, fruit-flavoured wines such as elderberry, elderflower, damson and cherry, and even a special ‘Viking Cake'. Make your visit to York between 25 October and 2 November and you'll also find an army
of Vikings setting up camp in Coppergate Square to celebrate ‘Vetrnaetr', the Festival of Winter Nights. A weekend of free arts activities is followed by Viking jewellery-making, storytelling and Halloween preparations. Viking mask, anyone?

Find out more

Jorvik Viking Centre, York, tel: 01904 643211, www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk

Murton Park, York, tel: 01904 489966, www.murtonpark.co.uk

The Yorkshire Museum, York, tel: 01904 687687, www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk

The Hunterian Museum, Glasgow, tel: 0141 330 4221, www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk

To fully immerce yourself in the Viking history make sure to visit York which you can reach by train from other major cities such as Manchester.

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