Mr Straw's House

About

Mr Straw’s House will reopen to the public on the 20th May 2021. Tours are self-guided and limited to one household per booking time, for a maximum of 4 people. Visits are by pre-booking only, via the Mr Straw’s House website.

 

Ordinary house, extraordinary home

Step back in time to the 1920s and discover how a grocer's family lived in a Midlands market town through their furnishings and household objects.

The modest semi-detached house at number 7, Blyth Grove has remained virtually unchanged since the Straws moved here in 1923. For over 60 years they threw little away and chose to live without many of the modern comforts we take for granted today.

Treasured possessions and ordinary domestic items can still be seen exactly where their owners left them in number 7, while number 5 provides space for displaying objects normally hidden inside drawers and cupboards.

Outside, the lovingly tended garden and orchard includes a greenhouse housing Walter Straw's cacti collection and various fruit trees once used by the family to make preserves and other recipes.

2019 Opening times:

Mr Straw's House is open from 5 March – 2 November, Tuesday - Saturday. Closed Good Friday. Access to the property is by pre-booked tickets only please call 01909 482380 to arrange your booking. Tours are start at 11am with the last tour at 4pm.