A SERIES of events are due to take place to celebrate local history month.

Libraries in Stockton Borough will be hosting the events throughout May and will aim to explore the history of the borough through topics ranging from family history and genealogy to the history of morality.

On Thursday, May 14, Stockton Central Library will explore attitudes to morality and marriage in the past. The event will be called Illicit Love and Public Shame.

University of Teesside lecturers will hold interactive workshops from 10am - 12pm using local stories to illustrate changing attitudes to marriage, adultery and divorce.

These include a clergyman who becomes too attached to the parish schoolmistress and the scandal surrounding Henry Clarke and Elizabeth Moorsham’s elopement in 1791.

Thornaby Central Library will explore the darker side of history on Tuesday, May 19 when they hold the Villains of Stockton event.

Taking place at 9.30am and 11.45am, the talks will use actual mug shots of criminals from the past to explore the first crimes to take place across the Borough of Stockton.

Councillor Mary Womphrey, Stockton Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure and Culture, said: “There is a wealth of exciting history surrounding the Borough and Local History Month is a great opportunity for people to discover how the Borough has changed over the years.”

Contact your local library for details of all events taking place across Stockton Borough Libraries during May.