During the Summer term 2004, children from St. Mary and St. Paul's Primary School, Prescot, were awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This enabled them to work together with professional actors and Prescot Museum to produce a short film documenting watchmaking in Victorian Prescot.

The children from year 5 learnt what life was like in Victorian Britain, specifically the social and economic factors affecting Prescot at the time. The main industry in Prescot during the late 19th Century was watchmaking, this fell into decline as prices were undercut by cheap American and Swiss imports. The Lancashire Watch Company was set up in 1889 to revive the business in the town. The class explored life through the eyes of a working class child, looking at job options, leisure pursuits and domestic conditions.

The children and the team of actors, researchers, teachers, film crew and museum staff then brought history to life. Scripts were written, costumes were hired, film locations were negotiated and the children performed their knowledge of the Victorian era.

The film is a fantastic visual document that brings together Victorian life in Prescot and the Lancashire Watch Company.

To support the video a national curriculum pack, web site, leaflet and touring exhibition have been created for everyone to learn more about the project.

"We all went to Croxteth Hall to make a film
and we dressed in Victorian costumes."

"When I was in the film I learnt that you have to be
very careful and very patient."