Walking back in time

A popular Midsummer Story Walk returns to The Workhouse, Southwell, on Friday, June 8, with a Dickensian theme.

To mark the 200th anniversary of his death, characters from Dickens’ life and works will be recreated through storytelling, costume and readings.

Dickens painted a bleak picture of workhouse life in Oliver Twist. The event will hear the Master take issue with the author’s interpretation and reveal the realities of life at the town institution. Visitors will also meet a range of characters including the estranged Mrs Dickens and a number of fallen women, one of whom had an illicit affair with the author.

Today, Thursday 7, at 10.30am Dr Paul Carter from the National Archives at Kew will talk on Punishing Paupers In The Victorian Workhouse.