Visually impaired history lovers were brought 'face to face' with a Saxon past when they visited the Taplow Mound last week.

The 25 visitors - all members of the Aktiveyes group which is part of Berkshire Vision - were at the ancient Saxon burial mound in Taplow, which was the last resting place of Taeppa’s who died in the early part of the seventh century and gave the village its name.

Nigel Smaels, a local historian and member of the Hitcham and Taplow Society, gave a presentation about the mound before six members of the Saxon re-enactment group Wulfheodenos came over the hill and presented themselves to the Aktiveyes group.

The re-enactment team was headed by Paul Browne and each member of the group made themselves available so that the visually impaired visitors could touch the armour, weapons, and clothing they were wearing - a magic moment for them all.

The Taplow Mound overlooks the Thames Valley and was an important venue in historic times.

After the visit to the Mound the Aktiveyes group visited the adjacent historic Taplow Court.

This magnificent building is now the centre of Buddhism for the UK.

Robert Harrup gave them a talk about the history and current use of the site.