Southwell Workhouse

This Victorian workhouse in Southwell, Nottinghamshire is one of the best preserved in the entire country. It was built by local churches to house those who could no longer support their families. Once inside, those families were split up into segregated areas for men and women. Couples would not see each other and they would see little of their children too who were educated in the school room. When you visit today, much of the property is laid out as it would have been when the workhouse was in operation. It’s a truly extraordinary building and a must-visit historic attraction if you’re in the area. You’ll learn so much about how we used to treat people who are now supported by the UK’s ‘welfare state’.

Your self-guided tour takes you through all the significant rooms, starting with the kitchen and the areas where work was carried out. Most of the men were occupied daily with either breaking rocks or splitting rope. In one room you can have a go at breaking down ropes – it’s really tough work and your fingers will ache in no time! You’ll also see the laundry and some of the below ground storage areas.

Upstairs you’ll visit the master’s quarters, the school room and the dormitories. There’s also an area where you walk into the 1970s. That’s because the empty building had a new use back then as a home for single mothers and their babies.

Outside, you’ll see the segregated exercise areas areas, the working water pump, the exhibition areas and a more recent addition – the infirmary. This building was brought back into use for visitors in recent years and shows how those who were unwell were cared for. It’s like an early version of the NHS, but funded by the workhouse. Throughout your visit you’ll find yourself wondering about the motives behind the place. Was the workhouse about compassion and caring for those who found themselves in financial difficulty? Or was it a place of retribution for those people who didn’t conform to society’s values…more like a prison? You’ll have to make your own mind up when you visit.

The Workhouse in Southwell is operated by the National Trust. It’s open daily at peak times like the summer school break, Wednesday to Sunday in the warmer months and only at weekends in the colder ones. Adult admission is £15 (2025 prices) but it’s free for members to visit.

LOCATION & CONTACT

Address: The Workhouse, Upton Road, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0PT
Phone: +44 1636 817260

Southwell is a 30 minute drive from Nottingham on the A612 and the town itself is worth visiting to pop into Southwell Minster or the small independent shops. Bus services 26, 26A, 26B run from Nottingham too.