PEOPLE are being urged to take a peek in a photo album revealing images of what our Victorian ancestors looked like in the fashion and costume of the era.

Great Grandma's Photo Album is an exhibition of photographic portraits at the Green Dragon Museum, Stockton, from September 6 to October 19.

The exhibition will feature a large collection of Cartes de Visite, small picture cards that enabled people of all ages and social classes to have their images recorded in a range of poses.

Alongside the photographs will be costumes, accessories and jewellery from the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

Graham Bowen, Stockton Borough Council's museums officer, said: "The advent of mass-produced photography from 1859 saw a rise in the number of people having their photograph taken.

"These picture cards reflected fashions and aspirations of Victorians.

"The photographs help to show how adults and children were portrayed."

The museum is open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday. Admission is free.