Youngsters stepped back in time and met Mary the Victorian maid.

Hard life - Victorian maid Mary (Olivia Armstrong) shows Gemma Shilling, Samantha Theal, Shoshona Simpson-Whalley and Kayleigh Simpson-Williams a carpet beater. Picture: STEVE ARGENT 41208-2

She worked her socks off as the housemaid to the wealthy family of the Hollytrees House back in 1881.

Now the servant has been brought back to life as part of half-term fun at the museum.

Children got to dress up in Victorian clothes, handle real objects from the period and learn about doing the laundry the old-fashioned way.

The drop-in sessions offer an opportunity to capture the imagination of children and help them realise how much better off they are today.

Published Wednesday, February 23, 2005

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