Children from a Lancashire primary school took a step back in time to stage a special celebration Photography by Kirsty Thompson

Queen Victoria would soon be mourning the death of her beloved Albert, the first shots were being fired in the American Civil War and Joseph Swan was close to perfecting his incandescent light bulb.

It was also an eventful if less dramatic time for the South Ribble community of Penwortham - 1861 was the year when Middleforth Primary School was founded.

To mark the 150th anniversary, children and staff staged a week of celebrations and Lancashire Life photographer Kirsty Thompson was there to capture some of the festivities.

They started with a day in Victorian dress, sampling a the very different world of education during the Industrial Revolution. During a week of events culminating in a service of thanksgiving at St Leonard’s Church, the highlights included a fun street party-style picnic. Then it was back into the classroom where a sign reminded them: ‘No smiling - school is for work not fun!’

Happily, the regime at Middleforth Primary in 2011 is considerably more relaxed.

http://www.middleforth.lancs.sch.uk/index.php