PICTURES: Victorian weekend at Nothe Fort in Weymouth

The two days were filled with historic military demonstrations from the Nothe Fort Garrison, The Rifle Brigade, and The Bluejackets Re-enactment Society.

There were also displays from a Victorian scientist and surgeon, plus an array of traditional crafts including blacksmithing, thatching and more.

The Ragged Victorians - an award-winning, living history group portraying the life and tales of the lower classes in Queen Victoria’s rule - also returned for the weekend.

Emma Murgatroyd, events and marketing manager at Nothe Fort, said: "Because we are a Victorian fort, we have done this year on year.

"We have got different reenactors from all over the country, there is an award-winning group called The Ragged Victorians, they reenact the lower classes, they dress up completely and are so authentic.

"Each person is a different character with a different story.

"We have The Rifle Brigade, they actually come and live in the Victorian gundeck for a while.

"They show how people would live in that era and they even cook on an old stove.

"We have our garrison demonstrating people who would have been at the fort.

"The blue jackets also represent the navy.

"We also have a Victorian surgeon who has all of the tools from the time, he has actual horror stories.

"It is a weekend where history comes to life and a lovely way to learn about the past."

Another workshop in the Fort was The Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society where people were encouraged to come and write a letter using a traditional pen and inkwell.

Dinah Johnson, founder of the society, said: "The Society was set up to inspire people to keep writing letters.

Dinah Johnson, founder of The Handwritten Letters Appreciation Society (Image: Tom Lawrence) Dinah writing a traditional Victorian letter (Image: Tom Lawrence)

"We were invited along to encourage some Victorian-style writing with dip pens and inkwells.

"It is nice to encourage people to give it a try."

"As a society, we have 1,608 members in 36 countries.

Stacey and Simon Binstead visited whilst on holiday from New Zealand with their children Wyatt, Lydia and Avery

The Binstead family from New Zealand at Nothe Fort (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Simon said: "I was searching for things in Weymouth to have a look at.

"I did a bit of reading and I read that it was run by volunteers and it looked good.

"It is a great way to come and visit an attraction but also a chance to learn something."