How We Used to Live facts for kids

How We Used to Live was a popular British TV show. It helped kids learn about history. The show was made by Yorkshire Television. It ran for a long time, from 1968 to 2002. You could watch it on ITV and Channel 4.

The series was created by Freda Kelsall. It followed the lives of make-believe families from Yorkshire. These families lived in a fictional town called Bradley. The stories started in the Victorian era and went up to the early 1970s. Each episode was a short drama. It also included real old film clips.

Watching the Show: How it was Broadcast

How We Used to Live was part of ITV Schools. It was shown on ITV from 1968 to 1987. Later, it moved to Channel 4 and S4C.

Each series usually had 20 episodes. These were split into two parts. The first ten episodes aired in the autumn. The rest were shown in the spring term. The show was repeated often. This allowed many students to learn about modern history.

Sometimes, special episodes were shown. For example, a documentary about making the show aired in 1984. It was called Thora Hird Introduces How We Used to Live.

Exploring the Series: Different Eras

There were many different series of How We Used to Live. Each one focused on a different time period.

Series 1: Late Victorian Life

The first series looked at the late Victorian era. It first aired in 1968. Some extra episodes were added later. This series was unique because it had on-screen presenters. These included Geoffrey Wheeler and Redvers Kyle.

Series 2: From 1908 to 1945

This series covered the years from 1908 to 1945. The first half, from 1908 to 1918, followed the Ackerley family. They moved into a new home in Bradley in 1908. The father, Albert, worked at a printing press. His son Harry got a job as a grocer's boy. Their daughter Jane became a housemaid.

The second half, from 1925 to 1945, featured the Dawson family. They moved into the same house. Stanley Dawson, the father, lost his job in the 1930s. His family had to rely on his daughter Marjorie's earnings. The Boothroyds then moved in before World War II. The last episodes showed how they managed during wartime.

Series 3: Back to 1874-1887

This series went back to 1874 and ended in 1887. It showed the lives of three connected families. They had very different experiences. Dr. Hughes was a successful doctor in Upper Bradley. He treated wealthy patients. He also helped at the Bradley Free Hospital. His family lived a comfortable life with servants.

The Hughes' eldest daughter, Dora, married Captain Bertram Selwyn. His family were landowners. Their lives were very different from the Fairhurst family. Ben and Mary Fairhurst were poor mill workers. They struggled to feed their many children. Their eldest daughter, Annie, worked for Dr. Hughes.

Series 4: 1936 to 1953

This series covered 1936 to 1953. It focused on the Hodgkins family. Arthur Hodgkins was a railway worker. He lived in Bradley with his wife Mabel and their four children. They faced tough times during the Second World War. They also experienced the period of austerity after the war. The series ended with the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Series 5: 1902 to 1926

This series aired in 1984–1985. It explored major events and social changes. It started after the Boer War in 1902. It ended with the General Strike of 1926. The story followed the friendship of two families. They met at Sunday school. The Holroyds were a wealthy middle-class family. Their father owned a textile mill. The Selbys were a poor working-class family. Their mother worked long hours in the mill. As the children grew up, their lives became connected. The series showed the big social changes in Britain during this time.

Series 6: 1954 to 1970

This series covered 1954 to 1970. It focused on the Brady family. Michael Brady, the father, was a character from Series 5. He and his family moved back to Bradley. Michael's aunt and uncle from Series 5 also appeared. Characters from Series 4, like Jimmy and Edward Hodgkins, were also regulars. Redvers Kyle narrated parts of this series. He showed old film footage.

Later Series: Expanding History Topics

After six series, How We Used to Live changed. It added more documentary parts. But the series became shorter.

Series 7 was split into two parts. The first part, Victorians: Early and Late, aired in 1990. The second part, Expansion, Trade and Industry, followed a merchant family.

Later series covered even more history. These included In Civil War (1993) and A Tudor Interlude (1993). There was also Isaac Newton: Under the Stuarts (1995). From Iron Ways to Victorian Days (1996) included new stories. It also re-ran parts of Victorians: Early and Late. Other series were Britons at War (1997) and The Spanish Armada (1998). The show continued until 2002. The last units included All Change, Tudor Times, Tony Robinson's Local History Search, and A Giant in Ancient Egypt.

Characters and Families

Many characters in the show were played by different actors. This showed them growing up over the years.

Key Families and Characters

• The Ackerley Family (Series 2): A working-class family in the early 1900s. They showed life before and during World War I.
• The Dawson Family (Series 2): This family faced unemployment in the 1930s.
• The Boothroyds (Series 2): They showed how people coped during World War II.
• The Hughes Family (Series 3): A middle-class family in the late 1800s. Dr. Hughes was a doctor concerned about public health.
• The Selwyn Family (Series 3): An aristocratic family. Their lives contrasted with the working-class families.
• The Fairhurst Family (Series 3): A poor working-class family. They struggled with many children and hard work in the mills.
• The Hodgkins Family (Series 4): A lower middle-class family during World War II and the years after. Arthur was a railwayman. Mabel was a housewife who became a teacher during the war. Their children, Jimmy, Patricia, Avril, and Edward, grew up through these changing times.
• The Selby Family (Series 5): A poor working-class family in the early 1900s. The father was often absent. The mother worked long hours. Their children, Maggie, Tom, Freddie, Albert, and Alice, showed how social changes affected them.
• The Holroyd Family (Series 5): A wealthy middle-class family. Their father owned a textile mill. Their children, Maurice, Charlotte, and Alexander, had different experiences. Charlotte was a suffragette.
• The Brady Family (Series 6): Michael Brady, a character from Series 5, was the father. He worked as a postman and became a councillor. His wife Joan was a housewife. Their children, Susan, Roger, and Beverley, grew up in the 1950s and 60s.

Learning Materials

Each series came with special materials for teachers and students. These "Teachers' Notes" helped schools use the show. They included:

• Information about the historical period.
• Reading lists for students.
• Summaries of each episode.
• Ideas for activities before and after watching.
• Questions for discussion.

These materials helped students understand the history shown in the programs.

Watching at Home: VHS Releases

Many series of How We Used to Live were released on VHS tapes. This happened in 1994 and 1995. These tapes were mainly for schools. But now, people often collect them. You can sometimes find them on websites like eBay.