The course, at the award winning Gateshead Heritage @ St Mary’s centre on Gateshead Quays, will help history buffs to learn about what ordinary family life was like in Gateshead over 170 years ago. What families ate and drank, where they worked or what they did in their leisure time… even what they did when those gas lights were put out!

The course will highlight the gulf between the lives of the rich and the poor in Victorian times. The wealthy owning their own business and living in large detached homes surrounded by greenery whilst poor families lived in cramped, overcrowded accommodation and their children had only the back lanes in which to play. The day to day life of a wealthy woman could perhaps include a spot of painting on the lawn. Whereas a working class woman of the day would be likely to have been fully occupied with childcare and trying her hardest to keep the family home as clean as possible.

Led by North East Centre for Lifelong Learning associate lecturer and noted Victorian expert Malcolm Grady, the ten week course is designed specifically for anyone with an interest in local history but no formal qualifications.

Mr Grady said: "This course offers a remarkable mix of learning about local history in a fun way with the opportunity to learn with like minded enthusiasts who bring their own personal experience and histories to the course. It has been designed for people who may not have any formal educational qualifications and encourages people who just have an interest in learning about themselves, their families and their environment to come along and see what they can discover. For example what was it like working in a brewery or perhaps in the engine sheds at Greensefield or being a servant girl.”

Each week the course follows a Gateshead family as they live through the seven decade of the Victorian era starting in the 1830's and finishing in the 1900's. There will be ample opportunity to study original material from the times such as newspapers, photographs, maps and census material as well as visiting places of local historical interest including a Victorian pub, an art gallery and public buildings.

Starting on Tuesday January 26, 6pm to 8pm, the course also offers a Saturday study day. Refreshments and free parking will be available and the course costs just £35 for the entire ten week programme.

Enrolment for the course is open through the North East Centre for Lifelong Learning on 0191 5152800. More information on the course is available from Anthea Lang, Gateshead Council local history and heritage manager, on 0191 433 4696.