Mr Straw's House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mr. Straw's House |
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The house in 2004
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| General information | |
| Location | 5-7 Blyth Grove, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Coordinates | 53°18′54″N 1°06′55″W / 53.3150°N 1.1154°W |
| Completed | 1905 |
| Owner | National Trust |
Mr Straw's House is a special place in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom. It is looked after by the National Trust. This house was built in the Edwardian era, around 1905. It is a semi-detached house, meaning it is joined to another house on one side. What makes it unique is that most of its rooms and everything inside them have stayed almost the same since the 1920s. It first opened its doors to visitors in 1993.
Contents
The Straw Family's Story
Moving to Worksop
The Straw family lived in this house on Blyth Grove. William Straw came to Worksop in 1886 with his brother, Benjamin. They started a successful grocery shop at 130 Bridge Street. Their shop sold tea, seeds, and groceries.
Family Life and New Home
William bought out his brother's share of the business in 1889. He lived above the shop with his wife, Florence Ann Winks. Florence's father was a successful butcher. William and Florence had three sons: William Jr. (born 1898), Walter (born 1899), and David (born 1901). Sadly, David passed away when he was very young in 1903.
In 1923, the family moved into their new house on Blyth Grove. Florence was excited to decorate it. She chose the newest wallpapers and carpets. She wanted their new home to be modern and stylish. It was a chance to show how well their business was doing.
Life After William Sr.'s Passing
William Sr. passed away in 1932. After this, Florence made very few changes to the house. It was common for people in her time to keep things as they were when someone they loved passed away. She kept his pipes by the fireplace and his collar box in the bedroom.
When Florence passed away in 1939, her sons William Jr. and Walter lived in the house together. They lived a careful and thrifty life. They believed in "make do and mend," which means fixing things instead of buying new ones. Because of this, the house did not get many modern updates.
William Jr. and Walter's Interests
William Jr. spent many years in London before 1939. He studied English Literature and later became a teacher. When he moved back home in 1939, he took care of the house. Walter continued to run the family grocery business until he retired in 1962.
Neither brother ever married. They both had many hobbies, like archaeology and walking. They were also involved in local groups and their church, St John's.
The House Becomes a Museum
Walter passed away in 1976. William Jr. lived alone in the house until he passed away in 1990. In his later years, he was often in the hospital.
When William Jr. passed away, he left his amazing collection of about 30,000 everyday items to the National Trust. These items included furniture and old food tins. He also left his money to the Trust. The family home on Blyth Grove was left to the people who were renting the other half of the semi-detached house. William Jr. had bought that part of the house around 1940 and rented it out.
Luckily, these tenants sold their part of the house to the National Trust. This meant that the entire collection of items could stay in the house. It looks just as the Straws lived in it, full of their belongings. This gives visitors a wonderful look into a time gone by.
Visiting Mr. Straw's House
Caring for the Property
The Straw family took good care of their home. However, in William Jr.'s later years, it became hard for him to keep up with all the repairs. When the house was empty for a short time after William Jr. passed away, the cold and damp weather affected the building.
The National Trust fixed these issues. They also updated the electrical wiring to make it safe. The house was then ready for visitors. It opened to the public in 1993.
Planning Your Visit
Because the house is quite small, you need to book your visit in advance. Only small groups of up to four people can visit at a time. The house is usually open on Thursdays and Fridays. It closes for a winter cleaning at the end of October and reopens in March. The special display room and its theme change every year, so there's always something new to see!
