HISTORY buffs can discover how Tiny Tim really celebrated Christmas – at a Railway Village event this weekend.

The Mechanics Institution Trust have given their Railway Village museum cottage a festive makeover, returning it to how the Victorian cottage may have looked on Christmas Eve 1895.

Daniel Rose, director of the trust, said of the event: “It’s a chance to take a bit of a step back in time and see how Mr and Mrs Hall and their children would have experienced Christmas – and how different it was from today.”

He said that modern children might be shocked by the lack of presents. Although their parents would be more than happy with the plentiful mulled wine.

“So often we see Victorian Christmases that are very upper class – from country houses,” said Daniel.

Instead, the Railway Village Museum would show a working class Christmas, he said. Featuring heavily are homemade decorations, mince pies, games – but few presents.

The display, which takes over the whole house this weekend, is based on research by the charity.

Daniel said: “It’s a chance for people to reflect on how over the top Christmas can be these days.”

The free Christmas event is at the Railway Village Museum, 34 Faringdon Road, Saturday, December 16, to Sunday, December 17, 10am-3pm.

For more, visit: www.mechanics-trust.org.uk.