It’s a simpler life at a slower pace for National Trust’s hidden gem reopening after closure for conservation cleaning.
Following its annual winter conservation clean, Mr Straw’s House in Worksop will reopen to the public on Thursday 6 March.
Most National Trust properties inspire thoughts of historic mansions, wealth, and grandeur. However, tucked away in a private cul-de-sac, you’ll find Mr Straw’s House; the National Trust’s first small domestic property, acquired in 1990.
Mr Straw’s House is a preserved 1920s period home of a grocer’s family, virtually unchanged since the Straws moved there in 1923.
A true step back in time, visitors will discover more about the family who refused to modernise through spending time in the display rooms, hearing nostalgic stories, and getting a glimpse of some of the 30,000 treasured possessions and ordinary domestic items that can still be seen exactly where their owners left them.
House and Collections Officer Danielle Lander-Brown says, “The theme in the house this year is ‘A simpler life at a slower pace: the Straws, their hobbies and technology’. Visitors can learn more about how the family lived without many of the technologies we take for granted today as it’s revealed how they spent their leisure time without it”.
She adds “Our dedicated team of volunteers also run a monthly walk around Worksop which gives an insight into the places where the Straws worked, worshipped, and wandered. It’s a fascinating tour for those who want to delve deeper into the lives of the family, and especially for those with an interest in the local history of the town”.
The house is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 6 March – 31 October, 09.00 – 15.00, as well as Saturdays during June and September. Admission is by pre-booked timed self-led tours. Visits are in small groups of four people only, to help with the conservation work at the property. Booking is through the Mr Straw’s House website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mrstrawshouse.
Admission is £9 for adults, £4.50 for children and free to National Trust members. Car parking is available in the orchard opposite the house.
Posted on 03 March 2025
