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Heritage Open Days - The Workhouse and Infirmary
The Workhouse, Upton Road, Southwell, Nottingham, NG25 0PT
Call direct on:
Tel01636817260
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Call direct on:
Tel01636817260
Friday 11, Saturday 12, Friday 18, Saturday 19 September 2026
Southwell Workhouse and Infrimary
Free, External Building Tours
Behind every door is a story and The Workhouse and Infirmary bears witness to over 160 years of changing social policy and attitudes towards the poor and vulnerable in society.
Built in 1824 as a last resort for many people, The Workhouse in Southwell is one of the best preserved and most complete in England. 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.
Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist painted a bleak picture of life in the workhouse. However, the focus here is to show that although harsh and monotonous, aspects such as education, medical care or diet may have been better for the poor than in their own homes. The Workhouse not only tells a powerful and enlightening story of how it provided for the poorest in society but how it was pivotal in the development of our national health and welfare system.
Interactive media, personal objects, and the stories of those who lived and worked here help to bring history to life. While seasonal events, walks and costumed characters will take visitors on a captivating journey into the past.
| Heritage Open Days - The Workhouse and Infirmary (11 Sep 2026 - 19 Sep 2026) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Friday - Saturday | Open | |
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