The Workhouse, Southwell
| The Workhouse | |
|
National Trust | |
|---|---|
 The Workhouse | |
| Grid reference: | SK712543 |
| Information | |
| Website: | Workhouse |
The Workhouse, also known as Greet House, in the town of Southwell in Nottinghamshire was built in 1824 as a workhouse for the town and served as the prototype for later nineteenth century workhouses. Today it is a museum operated by the National Trust.
After the Workhouse was built in 1824, it was cited by the Royal Commission on the poor law as the best example among the existing workhouses, before the resulting New Poor Law of 1834 led to the construction of workhouses across the country. It is described by the National Trust as the best-preserved workhouse in Britain.
The building remained in use until the early 1990s, when it was used to provide temporary accommodation for mothers and children.[1] Its acquisition by the National Trust reflects that organisation's wish to broaden its interests and to ensure the continued existence of a Grade II* listed building that was potentially to be turned into residential flats.
Restoration work began with roof repairs in 2000 and is ongoing. Many rooms have been redecorated as they would have looked in the 19th century and buildings, walls and privies, which had been demolished in the 20th century, have been reinstated.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about The Workhouse, Southwell) |
- Workhouse – National Trust
- National Heritage List 1045931: The Workhouse, Southwell
- BBC Radio 4: Fearnought (poems for Southwell Workhouse)
References
- ↑ Fowler 2007, p. 223
- Fowler, Simon (2007), Workhouse: The People: The Places: The Life Behind Closed Doors, The National Archives, ISBN 978-1-905615-28-5