A RETIRED history lecturer who found a collection of letters and photos in the attic of a house he had moved to will run a course to help people find out who has lived in their homes.

Dr Tony Nicholson said every home, whatever its age or size, has stories to tell about the lives of the men, women and children who lived there.

He discovered his house had been home to an 18th Century blacksmith and horse doctor, a naval lieutenant who served as a boy in Nelson’s navy, a Victorian lady with Russian connections, an author and a playwright who collaborated with Lewis Carroll.

He said: “Whether you are a homeowner or a tenant, discovering the history of your house can be a fascinating and rewarding experience.”

Northallerton and District Local History Society and North Yorkshire County Record Office are offering a series of four Wednesday evening sessions, run by Dr Nicholson, who will use his stories to help illustrate the sources and methods to uncover the lives of people from the early 1700s to the 21st Century.

The fee is £20 per person, to be paid on the first evening, covering all four sessions.

The one-hours talks will be held at the County Record Office in Malpas Road, Northallerton, from April 23, at 7pm.