The Workhouse (Southwell)

The Workhouse, in the wonderful village of Southwell in Nottinghamshire, is the best surviving example of these 19th century institutions in the UK. Southwell itself is situated 13 miles East of Nottingham and about 8 miles from the town of Newark. The Workhouse institutions were linked with the Poor Laws which date back over 400 years. The Old Poor Law made every local parish responsible for its own poor, and the cost was passed on to property owners in the parish. While public opinion, just like today, varied enormously, the cost was getting out of hand with a doubling of costs to £8million in the fifteen year period until 1818. Rev John Thomas ...  Read the complete review

Southwell Workhouse is by far my favourite National Trust property. A must see for any Victorian History fan or National Trust lover. Also a great place to go during the summer holidays if you want to keep your kids minds active. Southwell workhouse is the greatest surviving example of the Victorian workhouse and it just so happens to be the blue print that all the other workhouses were built on. Southwell Workhouse was the brain child of an idea by Rev. John Becher who had set up a parish workhouse as his solution to relief those in desperate situations. After his parish workhouse did infact help to reduce the poor rates (by about 70%? if I remember right!) ...  Read the complete review

Overview ------------ This workhouse is now owned by the national trust and is set in the most beautiful setting. It is around £6 per person to get in and this includes an audio tour. Location ------------ I enjoyed going into the village for lunch before entering the workhouse. There are some lovely pubs and shops to look around making it a full day out. The workhouse is easy to find and is very accessable from the motorway - car parking is also free and plentyful. Staff ------- Very friendly and helpful - 2 older ladies in the shop give you your audio tour and take your entrance fee. They were very knowledgeable and ...  Read the complete review

I haven't visited the work house recently however it is dissapointing not read of the nursery in the front part of the building from where many babies and youngsters where adopted in the 50's as this may appeal to many just from a nostalgia point of view. I was adopted from there in 1953 and visited in the early 90's when I first found out that this was the place my new life started from, sitting in the office talking to staff about the facts of my adoption they had records and to my amasement told me I was quite possibly sat in the office where my birth mum was when she actualy handed my sister and I over even more possiblt still the same furniture from the same ...  Read the complete review

My wife and I live in Birmingham and last weekend we went on the long awaited trip to the Workhouse. The drive took us approximately two hours some of that time spent trying to find the Workhouse as we saw no sign advertising it's whereabouts. Anyway directions from a very friendly local found us pulling up in the carpark. The sight of the Workhouse promised much and the National Trust must be congratulated on saving such an important historical building for the nation. Unfortunately, once inside, our initial excitement and expectations were quickily brought down to earth by a building full of empty rooms and a sign saying 'No photography beyond this point'. This was ...  Read the complete review