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The Workhouse and Infirmary
Atmospheric Georgian Workhouse and Victorian Infirmary
Upton Road, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0PT
Important notice
Due to high winds, The Workhouse & Infirmary will be closed on Friday 21 February. The property is expected to reopen on Saturday 22 but please check here and our social media channels before travelling.
Opening times for 21 February 2025
Asset Opening time Workhouse & Infirmary 10:30 - Last admission 15.00 Café 10:30 - 15:00 MTWTFSS27282930311234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272812OpenPartially openClosedWhole property
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £16.50 £15.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £8.30 £7.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £41.30 £37.50 1 adult, up to 3 children £24.80 £22.50 Group (Adult 18+) £14.25 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
Family friendly
Bookshop
Second-hand bookshop
Guided tour
Guided tour available on a first-come first-served basis at various times throughout the day.
Café
Café located in the Infirmary. Indoor and outdoor seating available. The café is open for hot and cold drinks, soup, pasties, snacks, cakes and ice cream. Food and drink is not permitted inside the historical buildings.
Picnic area
Car park
Free parking, 200 metres away from the property. what3words ///holly.disposing.acclaim
Shop
Guidebooks and small souvenirs can be purchased from the visitor reception building.
Cycle parking
Toilet
Toilets are available in the visitor reception building, Infirmary cafe and in the hub.
Dogs allowed
Dogs are allowed outside anywhere on site. Assistance dogs only in the historic buildings.
Blue Badge parking. Accessible toilets. Ramped entrances. Upper floors are stairs only. Fully accessible outdoors route.
Accessible route and/or map
Narrow corridors
There is some narrow access in The Workhouse building.
Accessible toilet
Accessible toilets can be found in the visitor reception building, the hub and the Infirmary cafe.
Photograph album
Braille (guide or menu)
Powered mobility vehicle available
We have two mobility scooters available to hire. Please speak to a member of the team on arrival.
Designated parking
Accessible parking available in the main visitor car park, 200 metres from the property.
Ramped access/slopes
Induction loop
Seating available
Large print (guide or menu)
Steps/uneven terrain
There are steps to the upper floors of The Workhouse.
Level access to food outlet
Virtual tour
Level access/terrain
Wheelchairs available
Lift
There is a lift in the Infirmary.
By road
13 miles from Nottingham on A612 and 8 miles from Newark via A617 and A612.
Parking: Free
Sat Nav: Please note, some services such as Google Maps will not send you to our front entrance. To help, please look for The Workhouse on 'Upton Road, NG25 0QB'. Ideally, use what3words ///holly.disposing.acclaim
On foot
Robin Hood Way
By train
Newark Castle 7 miles; Newark North Gate 7½ miles; Nottingham 13 miles
By bus
Regular services from Newark, Nottingham and Mansfield bus stations. The NCT Lilac 26 route connects Nottingham to Southwell, stopping a short walk from The Workhouse and Infirmary.
Planning your visit
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Visiting The Workhouse and Infirmary
Find out more about visiting The Workhouse and Infirmary, where guided tours, exhibitions and activities help bring to life the stories of the people who had to work to receive food, shelter and medical care here.
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Educational visits to The Workhouse and Infirmary
Bring your education or school group to The Workhouse and Infirmary in Nottinghamshire. Step back in time to the 1840s and find out what life was like inside this gruelling institution. All visits are self led, giving you the opportunity to design your day around your group's learning needs.
Events
See the details of all upcoming events taking place at The Workhouse and Infirmary.
Highlights
The Workhouse
Workhouse built in 1824, a last-resort refuge for the poor and destitute, now one of the best-preserved examples in the country.
The Infirmary
The Infirmary, which supported ill Workhouse inmates, eventually adapted its role and response to care until decommission in the 1980s.
Kitchen Garden
Various vegetable plots, orchards and rich pasture that once supplied food for Workhouse inmates, now nurtured by volunteers for purchasable produce.
Infirmary Café
Comfortable and reflective café offering hot and cold drinks, soups, sandwiches, snacks and cakes with seating indoors and outdoors.
Spotlight events
Workhouse Whodunit
Visitors are invited to put their detective hat on and take part in a family-friendly trail, The Workhouse Whodunit, uncovering the mystery of who broke the rules and what punishment they received.
Becher Walks, every Wednesday from 5 March
Step back in time and join Reverend John T. Becher, founder of The Workhouse, on a 2.5 mile walking tour of Southwell. Listen as he highlights his connections with the town as a Chairman, Magistrate and Social Reformer during a period of great change. The walk is free but due to limited spaces, booking is required.
Things to see and do
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Family-friendly things to do at The Workhouse and Infirmary
There are lots of ways to keep the family engaged at The Workhouse and Infirmary. With children's trails, seasonal activities, digital devices and dress up.
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The kitchen garden at The Workhouse
From plot to pauper plate, explore the recreated Victorian vegetable garden and admire the range of heritage varieties grown.
Eating and shopping
Eating & shopping at The Workhouse
Located on the ground floor of the Infirmary, the café serves a range of hot and cold drinks, seasonal meals and sweet treats. Whether you’re popping by for a takeaway coffee, staying for lunch or collecting supplies for a picnic, you’ll find something that hits the spot. Guidebooks and small souvenirs can be purchased from the visitor reception building. Take a look inside the second-hand bookshop and get lost in a world of your own. With fiction, hobbies, classics and children's books, there’s something for everyone.
Upcoming events
Event
Tales from The Workhouse
Step back in time at The Workhouse and Infirmary. Meet our costumed characters and learn about what life was like for the inmates who lived here.
Event
Workhouse Wellbeing Walks
Come and enjoy a social walk around Southwell and discover more of the local area surrounding The Workhouse.
Event
Becher Walk
Step back in time and join Reverend John T. Becher, founder of The Workhouse, on a tour of Southwell.
Event
Easter egg hunt at The Workhouse and Infirmary
This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at The Workhouse and Infirmary on an Easter trail.
About The Workhouse and Infirmary
Built in 1824 as a last resort for many people, this rural workhouse is one of the best preserved and most complete in England. It was designed to house around 160 inmates, who lived and worked in a strictly segregated environment with virtually no contact between the old and infirm, able-bodied men and women, and children.
As the site developed, the Infirmary was built in 1871 to care for those deemed too ill to be housed in the workhouse. Here you can glimpse the beginnings of an emerging healthcare system, as social care evolved.
Interactive media, personal objects and the stories of those who lived and worked here help to bring the history to life.
'An empty workhouse is a successful one' - Rev. J T Becher (founder of Southwell Workhouse)
History
Discover tales of inmates and patients at The Workhouse and Infirmary with Findmypast
In collaboration with family history website Findmypast, we've been exploring the 1921 Census of England and Wales. It's helped us get closer to the lives of people at The Workhouse and Infirmary, where we've revealed dozens more stories of inmates and patients from the last decade of The Workhouse era. Discover more about these stories while visiting the property, as well as research from nine other places in our care. By clicking on this page, you’ll access a third-party website. Please see their privacy policy for how they handle your personal data.
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A history of workhouses and the Infirmary
Learn about the concept and the history of The Workhouse and Infirmary and the role that they played.
The Bi-centenary Banner
The Bi-centenary Banner produced by local artist Vanessa Stone has taken pride of place at the Workhouse and Infirmary. The colourful and collaborative piece is now hung up on permanent display in the exhibition area. Created in July, the banner was based on an original black and white drawing that Vanessa scaled up and had printed onto 100% cotton. Visitors of all ages came along and coloured it in with all sorts of animals, patterns, colours and people.
Art and collections
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Collections at The Workhouse and Infirmary
Take a sneak peek into the treasure trove that is the collection of The Workhouse and Infirmary and learn what these objects tell us about the history of this special place.
Our work
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Our work at The Workhouse and Infirmary
Discover how we care for The Workhouse and the items in its collection, including original Victorian wallpaper from the Infirmary.
Project
Project
Re-imagining The Workhouse
Learn how a project to restore the Infirmary unfolded, the stories being told and how it’s helping to shape conversation about care, 150 years after it first opened.
Support us
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Volunteer opportunities at The Workhouse and Infirmary
One way to support the National Trust, while also spending time in amazing places and making new friends, is to volunteer. Find out more about joining the dedicated team of volunteers working to make The Workhouse and Infirmary a fascinating place to visit.