National Trust - The Workhouse, Southwell — Attraction in Newark and Sherwood

This is a slightly different kind of National Trust property compared to most I've been to. It was interesting to see what a work house would have been like and the way the families were split etc. I think we should have had a headset or something as we went round the property but we were told they didn't have any with charge available to let us use which was disappointing.

We arrived at the car park, having never even been here before, no staff showing you where to park (in our experience at other NT properties there is usually someone in a hi-viz jacket directing you especially as we visited during half term) - my husband parked up and we were just about to get out when a member of staff came over and told us we couldn't park there because of some building work they were doing. There were no signs up or cones out or anything and the man must have watched us park. He told us to park in a specific place which was completely full up so we ended up on the grass near the gate. As we were getting out the car another car did something similar so goodness knows how many people have had a similar experience. It wasn't a good start to our visit and did put a downer on everything. When we went to show our membership card the same man didn't apologise for the mix up or anything. Fortunately the rest of the staff seemed to make us feel welcome as we walked round the work house - especially an older lady in the kitchen who was really good with our kids, getting them to weigh out...

Very interesting visit indeed. This old 19th century workhouse is the most complete surviving one. Rescued by the National Trust, it is well worth a visit. Car park with disabled parking bays; reception and shop; grounds and garden; café; the workhouse itself and additionally the old infirmary building. Guide book just £4. Really great, innovative idea of putting informative text onto the bedding and clothes, as well as on the information boards. There is an old toilet which has had to be covered with a sign on saying: "Please do not use" as, amazingly, folk visiting have actually used it after the plumbing had been removed.... really?! When I visited the old infirmary, there was a knitted hospital on display to celebrate the NHS's 75th anniversary. There was also a textile exhibition on over in the workhouse on the top floor. There were also two other quilts on display - the Leighann Wightman Quilt and the Women's Quilt. Shocking. Impactful. Emotive as the suicide memory quilts that have been displayed in churches. They'll stop you in your tracks, or they should do. Between 2009 and 2015 598 women were killed by their partners/ex partners. Tip of the iceberg, as so many cases of domestic violence go unreported. Well done National Trust on another great renovation work, good to see where my membership...

This is one of the best examples in the country of a near complete Workhouse situated on the edge of Southwell and one of the best National Trust properties I have visited. There is not just the Workhouse to visit at the site there is the infirmary situated at Firbeck House that has been addition in the last few years and a welcome one at that just separate from the Cafe providing a detailed informative about the work of Florence Nightingale and how the sick were looked after and cared for at the site. The Workhouse itself is brilliant providing a copies amount of informative about how the Workhouse came into being, the Poor Law and how the Poor came to the Workhouse and what their life was like and each of the rooms provide informative displays regarding this. Visitors can pick up a tablet device where you can touch the orange dots on some of the exhibits with the tablet acquiring further information making it a very interesting experience. Children can also enjoy the quizzes on offer making their visit an interesting and enjoyable one. Overall this a really good place to visit and enjoy learning about Victorian History up to...