Days out with the family are always precious and parents are often looking for new things to try out.
And a National Trust attraction in Nottinghamshire may prove to be just the ticket for the whole family to have fun and learn a thing or two while at it.
Once a staple institution in British society, workhouses provided food and shelter for the poorest members of society in return for work.
The Workhouse National Trust museum in Southwell, near Newark, was built in 1824 and was a pioneering design for others throughout the country.
Visitors can bring the whole family and experience a full programme of living history events, tours and exhibitions showing how an atmospheric Victorian workhouse really operated.
Younger visitors can enjoy children’s trails, games and dressing up with activities and crafts during the school holidays.
This rural workhouse was designed to house around 160 inmates. They lived and worked in a strictly segregated environment with virtually no contact between the old and infirm, able-bodied men and women and children.
The stories of those who lived and worked here in the 1840s help bring the building to life and prompt reflection on how society has tackled poverty through the centuries.
The site is open every Wednesday to Sunday from February 14 2022 until October 30 2022 plus Bank Holidays from 10:30am until 4pm with last entry at 3pm.
The café also closes at 3pm. The site is also open seven days a week during August 2022.
Prices
Adults are £12 with gift aid at £13.20
Children are £6 with gift aid £6.60.
A family ticket is £30 with £33 for gift aid.
Address: Upton Road, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0PT
There is free parking on the site.
Google reviews
The attraction has been given an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 on Google with more than 1,200 reviews left.
One wrote: "Made our first visit to the workhouse, and this really is a fascinating experience into learning how life was so sad, and hard for the past paupers. Haunting stories both written, and verbal about life in the workhouse from past residents. Amazed to learn the workhouse was still operational into the 70's, and 80's. This really is a must visit for both young, and old."
A second added: "Remarkable place. Essential to go and visit, an education in what our ancestors had to go through, before the NHS. Victorian Attitudes about the undeserving poor, the role of the church in oppressing poor people, separation of children from parents, and what happened to women, all who were all but imprisoned for being poor. Excellent guided tour, and remarkable restoration of this building."
And a third said: "Amazing place. Still very much in tact and offers an incredible insight into the story of the people who lived and worked there. The digital tour was very informative and the guides dotted around the site were enthusiastic and informative. Highly recommended."
Visit Nottinghamshire has named the attraction as a 'hidden gem' in the county that families should experience.
More details of The Workhouse and Infirmary can be found here.
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