Mr Straw's House NT

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Mr Straw's House NT

Step back in time to the 1920s and discover how a grocer’s family lived through their treasured possessions and ordinary domestic items.

Furnished and decorated to the fashionable taste of Florence Straw in the 1920s, the house was occupied and maintained by her two sons.

7 Blyth Grove is an ordinary-turned-extraordinary Edwardian semi, frozen in time. Boasting knowledgeable, friendly guides, this must-see, life-sized time capsule is a rare treat for welcomed guests. We are open March - October current on Thursdays. We invite our

guests to book onto timed tour slots via our website. The house is rather small, so while we can accomodate large groups, we do have to split them up so everyone gets the best out of their visit. There are gardens and an orchard outside the property which you are welcome to look at and include benches. Please be aware that the house does contain three flights of stairs so access may be an issue - call and discuss if you are unsure. There will be a series of special events and tours throughout the year - check here or our twitter to get up to date news.

10/09/2026

🔑 Some of the best stories are behind closed doors...

What would you discover if you could look inside the cupboards, open the drawers and step beyond the ropes at Mr Straw's House?

Our special Revealed Tours offer a rare opportunity to explore parts of this remarkable home that aren't usually open to visitors.

Get closer to the collection, uncover stories about the Straw family and find out the fascinating details about everyday life in Blyth Grove.

📆 Tuesday 22 & Wednesday 23 September
🕰 10.00 - 12.00 & 13.00 - 15.00
🎟 £15 per person

Booking essential through our website at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/mr-straws-house/events/e221be4d-7f82-43e8-a59b-88e93fff5ab7

07/09/2026

A house full of stories – and a walk through Worksop’s history.

As part of Heritage Open Days, we are offering two ways to discover more about the history of Worksop with Mr Straw’s House.

On Saturday 12 September, you can step inside this remarkable 1920s grocer’s family home with free admission. And if you'd like to explore a little further, join our volunteers for a free 4.5-mile family walk along the Chesterfield Canal, starting at the house.

Along the way, our volunteers will share stories of the canal and its role in the history of Worksop. There’ll also be a free canal spotter trail for children joining the walk.

Due to limited spaces, booking is essential for both the house and the walk.

To book the house, go to: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mrstrawshouse

To book the walk, go to: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/mr-straws-house/events/63b3ac74-96c4-4e69-b612-10e28ec11f86

04/09/2026

👔 A tie for every occasion

For brothers William and Walter Straw, leaving the house without a tie was probably unthinkable.

Mr Straw’s House has more than 150 men’s ties in its collection, including bow ties, each reflecting the different occasions and expectations of everyday life.

From dressing up for a special occasion to heading into town, a tie was an essential part of a gentleman’s wardrobe.

It’s a small detail, but it shows just how much attitudes to getting dressed have changed.

02/09/2026

🏡 Saturday openings are here!

From this week, you can step inside Mr Straw’s House on a Saturday and discover the fascinating world of this much-loved 1920s family home.

Explore the carefully preserved rooms, discover the objects that tell the story of the Straw family and get a glimpse into everyday life in another time.

Why not make a visit to Mr Straw’s House part of your weekend?

🏠 Open every Saturday throughout September and October, as well as our usual Thursdays and Fridays.

🏠 Visits are by pre-booked, timed self-led tour. Book by calling 0344 249 1895 or via our website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mrstrawshouse

📷 Tammy Herd

26/08/2026

It used to take two people to vacuum the house! 🧹

Before electric vacuum cleaners were introduced, cleaning the house could be quite a workout.

Tucked away in the Lumber Room at Mr Straw’s House is a Baby Daisy, an early manual vacuum cleaner designed in France in 1890 and later built in Britain.

It needed two people to operate. One person stood at the back and worked the bellows backwards and forwards using a broomstick-like pole, creating the airflow needed to power the vacuum. Meanwhile, another used the pipe and attachments to do the actual cleaning.

Fast forward a few decades and William Straw Jnr and his brother Walter had something much more convenient - a 1950s Hotpoint upright vacuum cleaner, which can be seen in the parlour.

Two vacuum cleaners, two very different technologies, and a glimpse into how household life was changing.

📷 David Kissman/Geoffrey Frosh

19/08/2026

🏠 Our special Revealed Tours next month will uncover a few intriguing insights.

Like the 53 pieces of pyjamas in the bathroom cabinet - all of them striped!

With the house closed to the public, and the insides of drawers and cupboards usually out of sight, this is an opportunity to join an experienced guide and discover rarely seen items and learn more about the Straw family through their personal belongings.

And afterwards, stay for a cuppa and a chance to meet the team ☕

📆 Tuesday 22 & Wednesday 23 September
🕰 10.00 - 12.00 & 13.00 - 15.00
🎟 £15 per person

Booking essential at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/mr-straws-house/events/e221be4d-7f82-43e8-a59b-88e93fff5ab7

14/08/2026

A little measure of the Straws’ shop 🌱

These wooden seed measures were used by Walter Straw and his father, William Snr, in their grocers shop on Bridge Street in Worksop.

As well as being grocers, they were seed merchants, and sold everything from grains and seeds that you would eat, to those that you would sow.

The Customs and Excise mark shows they were true measures, checked annually to make sure they were accurate.

When Walter retired, he brought the measures home. Today, they sit on the lower shelf of the medicine cabinet in his bedroom.

Carved to resemble bamboo, they’re a lovely reminder of the family business at the heart of the Straws’ lives.

12/08/2026

Due to high temperatures and to help keep our visitors, staff and volunteers safe and comfortable, the property will be closed on Thursday 13 August.

Refunds are currently being processed for visitors who are not National Trust members and have paid an admission fee.

We expect to open as normal on Friday 14 August and look forward to welcoming you back soon.

📸 Tammy Herd

09/08/2026

🏠 Saturdays are coming to Mr Straw’s House.

For a limited time, Mr Straw’s House will be opening its doors on Saturdays throughout September and October, giving you an extra opportunity to discover this remarkable 1920s family home.

Virtually unchanged since the Straw family moved here in 1923, the house is filled with more than 30,000 objects, from treasured possessions to the most ordinary household items.

🎟️ Bookings open 4 weeks in advance
🏠 Visits are by pre-booked, timed self-led tour

See our website for full details at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mrstrawshouse

05/08/2026

📆 Object spotlight

Hanging beside the mirror in the front dining room is a calendar featuring two cute kittens.

It was the Straw family’s calendar for 1932 and remained on the wall after the sudden death of William Straw Snr that year.

In many ways, it marks the moment when time began to stand still at Mr Straw’s House.

Florence, together with her sons William and Walter, left much of the house just as it was, preserving the familiar surroundings of the family home. After Florence’s death in 1939, the brothers continued to care for the house in much the same way.

Today, the calendar remains exactly where they left it – a small everyday object that quietly tells one of the most poignant stories in the house.

Address

5/7 Blyth Grove
Worksop
S810JG

Telephone

+441909482380

Website

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mr-straws-house

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