National Trust property The Workhouse and Infirmary, Southwell, reopens to public with range of half-term activities

A popular attraction is to welcome back visitors — and invite them to become detectives or step back in time in a range of half-term activities.

The National Trust’s Workhouse and Infirmary, Southwell, closed over the winter for it’s annual conservation clean — but will open it’s doors again from Wednesday, February 19.

It’s just in time for half-term, and the historical venue has a range of activities to get involved in.

Visitors will be invited to put their detective hats on and take part in a family-friendly trail, The Workhouse Whodunit, to uncover the mystery of who broke the rules and what punishment they received.

On Thursday, February 20, and Saturday, February 22, it will be time to step back into the past for Tales of The Workhouse.

Through encounters with the costumed characters, visitors can learn about what life was like for the inmates who lived here.

Property operations manager, Victoria Mason-Hines said: “Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist painted a bleak picture of life in the workhouse. However, our focus here is to show that although harsh and monotonous, aspects such as education, medical care or diet may have been better for the poor than in their own homes.

“The Workhouse not only tells a powerful and enlightening story of how it provided for the poorest in society but how it was pivotal in the development of our national health and welfare system.

“Digital media, personal objects, and the stories of those who lived and worked here help to bring the history of The Workhouse to life. Younger visitors will find plenty of hands-on activities to enjoy like weighing ingredients in the kitchen, writing on slate in the school room, and experiencing the jobs of the paupers, as well as handling items, sitting on the beds, and dressing up.”

The Workhouse is open from Wednesday to Sunday each week, with additional days during Nottinghamshire school holidays.