Wash tubs at the ready for Hall contest

Activities at the hall, near Doncaster, will recreate a sports day known to have been staged there in 1903 - including a laundry contest.

“All of the women in Brodsworth village took part in a washing competition to see who could wash the best and the fastest,” said Brodsworth Hall's visitor operations manager Becky Harrison.

“We’ve got some wonderful archive photographs from the event which show the women hard at work with lines of tin washing tubs - although it is doubtful whether they would have worn their Sunday-best hats when doing their laundry at home!”

The washing competition will form a particular challenge for modern visitors, who will be required to use the same equipment and techniques as their ancestors - skills long lost with the advent of washing machines.

Visitors will also be invited to join in some more traditional Victorian games, from giant chess on the lawns to skipping competitions, hopscotch and giant quoits.

Children will be able to dress up in traditional Victorian costumes and enjoy puppet theatre and Victorian handicrafts including making scrap-screens and decoupage.

To add to the Victorian atmosphere a band will perform each day at 3pm - the Barnsley Co-operative Concert Band on Saturday and the Markham Main Band on Sunday. The event runs on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm both days.