IF you’d like to increase your knowledge about the history of St Helens check out the courses running from next week at the United Reform Church in King Street.

Devised and supervised by Dr Tom Preston, former heritage officer with St Helens Libraries, identical courses are being held on Tuesdays (1.30pm-2.30pm) July 1-22 and on Wednesdays (7pm-8pm) July 2-23. The cost of the four session course is £19.

You will hear how only a few British towns came into existence as a direct result of the Industrial Revolution and St Helens is a prime example of such a community that grew alongside the coal mines, glass works, and factories of two centuries ago.

Students will delve into St Helens’ history before and during the Industrial Revolution, focusing on the local government of Parr 250 years ago, the expansion of the town in Victorian times, including the development of Greenbank and Gerard’s Bridge, the 1890s suburb of Denton’s Green, and finally a look at leisure and recreation at Carr Mill Dam.