They say a woman's work is never done - but only if 'they' are brave!

Reporter Ellie Piovesana took a step back in time to an 'upstairs, downstairs' era, swapped her notebook for a mangle and tried a day as a maid to see if the old adage holds true.

The Cannock Mercury writer visited Lord Lichfield's ancestral home, Shugborough Hall, tried on a rather fetching uniform - and got stuck in to the chores.

She said: "As you make the long journey up the driveway, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd gone back in time.

"Before long, staff at the estate had me in a stripey dress, frilly apron and hat and I was marched off to experience the life of a working girl.

"My first stop was the laundry. Having only just mastered the art of 'clothes in washing machine' I took one look at the mangle and knew I wouldn't last five minutes.

"Never one to shy away from hard work (whatever my boss might say) I slaved away over a hot bucket and ran an old fashioned cast iron over a few sheets.

"Before long the weight of the iron took its toll and I had to take a moment to rest my eyes.

"But I was soon up and about again preparing dinner in the kitchen.

"Complete with coal fire, dozens of copper pots to polish and a cold hard floor to scrub, I definitely had my work cut out. After just a couple of hours I was desperate to be sat back at my desk."

But despite her strenuous day, Ellie was at pains to point out that a day at Shugborough Estate needn't be hard work for every visitor - with the recreation of life below stairs bringing the original servants' quarters back to life for tourists this season.

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