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 home in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom. It is looked after by the National Trust. This Edwardian house is like a time capsule! It has stayed almost exactly the same since the 1920s. This means you can see how a family lived nearly 100 years ago. It first opened to visitors in 1993.
Contents
A Glimpse into the Past
This semi-detached house was built around 1905. It became the home of the Straw family. William Straw moved to Worksop in 1886. He and his brother Benjamin started a successful grocery shop. William later took over the business by himself.
William married Florence Ann Winks in 1896. Florence's father owned a butcher shop across the street! William and Florence had three sons: William Jr., Walter, and David. Sadly, David passed away when he was very young.
Moving to a New Home
In 1923, the family moved into their new house on Blyth Grove. Florence quickly started decorating. She chose the newest wallpapers and carpets. She wanted a modern and stylish home. It was a chance to show off the family's success.
After her husband William passed away in 1932, Florence made very few changes. It was common for women in mourning to keep things as they were. She kept his pipes by the fire and his collar box in the bedroom. This was normal for her time.
The Brothers' Frugal Life
When Florence died in 1939, her sons William Jr. and Walter lived together. They lived a very careful and thrifty life. They believed in "make do and mend." This meant they repaired things instead of buying new ones. Because of this, the house hardly changed over the years.
William Jr. had studied English Literature in London. He taught at a college before moving home in 1939. He took care of the house. Walter ran the family grocery business until he retired in 1962. Neither brother married.
They both had many hobbies and interests. These included archaeology and walking. They were also involved in local groups and their church.
A House Preserved
Walter passed away in 1976. William Jr. lived alone until he died in 1990. In his later years, he was often in and out of hospital. When William died, he left his amazing collection of about 30,000 everyday objects to the National Trust. He also left them his money.
William had bought the other half of the semi-detached house around 1940. He rented it out. He left both halves of the house to his last tenants. Luckily, the tenants sold their half to the National Trust. This meant the entire collection could stay in the house. It gives us a wonderful look into a time gone by.
Mr Straw's House Today
The Straw family took great care of their home. But William found it hard to keep up with repairs in his later years. When the house was empty after William's death, the cold and damp caused some damage.
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 its doors to the public in 1993.
Planning Your Visit
Mr Straw's House is quite small. Because of this, you need to book your visit in advance. The maximum group size is four people. The house is usually open on Thursdays and Fridays. It closes for a winter clean at the end of October. It then reopens in March. The special display room and its theme change every year.
