March 25, 2025, by Leah Sharpe
My placement with the National Trust
By Hannah Kane, Biblical Studies and Theology
In the first semester of second year, I applied for the Nottingham Advantage Award module: Experience Heritage. After spending the summer longing for hands-on experience, the Advantage Award seemed like the perfect opportunity to do just that. I was fortunate enough to be placed at The Workhouse and Infirmary with the National Trust.
Here’s what I got up to…
Research
One of my first tasks was to research two individuals who were noted as being at the Workhouse and Infirmary during the 1921 census. I did this by using the website ‘Find my Past’. It gave me an insight into the primary research done by staff members in order to increase knowledge of their properties and the people who lived there.
Nottinghamshire Archives
I had never been to an archive before, so it was an exciting opportunity to see what archives were about. The aim of the trip was to digitise meeting records from the Workhouse during the early 20th century. I learned how to use archives as a researcher and digitise records using simple applications on iPads and mobile phones.
Winter deep clean
Historic buildings are often closed over the winter so they can be cleaned and inspected from top to bottom. As my placement fell within this window, I was able to be involved with the ‘deep winter clean’. This involved cleaning pretty much anything in sight very carefully and using specialist tools to ensure we didn’t damage the historic fabric of the building.
Digitisation
Every historic building likely has some form of a collection of items, and the Workhouse is no different. The team were in the process of photographing items within their collection to add to the database. I assisted in photographing nursing related items such as certificates, badges and photographs from when the Infirmary was still in use. It was my first time using a digital camera and a light box, but I soon got the hang of it.
Chatting
One of the most important things I did was talking to staff. I asked staff members about what a day looks like in their current roles. This allowed me to explore the different roles and areas within the Trust. I also enquired about the paths they took to enter their respective careers. I heard about the different routes into heritage and key transferable skills. Finally, I enquired about where I could find jobs in heritage to ensure I was able to find jobs when they were advertised.
My time at the Workhouse and Infirmary was varied and I cannot recommend getting involved with the National Trust enough. It was a brilliant introduction to the sector, full of friendly faces and interesting tasks.
Find out more information about the Nottingham Advantage Award.
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