A Mansfield family were the 500,000th visitor to the Workhouse at Southwell. The National Trust property, the most complete workhouse in the country, opened to the public in 2002 after having been saved from developers.

Eight-year-old Marnie, her mum, Sharon; and grandmother, Elizabeth, went to the tourist attraction after the High Oakham Primary School pupil suggested a visit.

They enjoyed a special tour from pauper character Sarah Godson, played by volunteer Dinah Wilcox.

The family had tea and cake with staff and were presented with a goody bag, including a customised Workhouse mouse and a celebratory gold scarf.

Marnie said she would take the items from the goody bag to her class ‘show and tell’ session. She dressed as a pauper and played with Victorian toys.
“I found things I hadn’t seen before like the graffiti on the exercise yard walls,” Marnie said.

For more information, go www.nationaltrust.org.uk/theworkhouse or call 01636 817260.