Mr Straw's House

Starting at Mr Straw's House, walk through Worksop, taking in sites of importance in the Straws' lives such as the Worksop Priory, the Straws' grave sites and their grocery shop.

See this step-by-step route marked on a map

Geoffrey Frosh National Trust Images

• Directions
• Route
• Bus stop
• Parking
• Toilet
• Viewpoint

1. Mr Straw's House

   Show/HideMr Straw's House

   The family moved to No 7 Blyth Grove in 1923.

   

2. North Notts College

   Show/HideNorth Notts College

   Walter Straw taught evening classes on grocers' skills at the college. The coffee bean he used is still in the vase on the mantlepiece of Florence's parlour.

   

3. Worksop station

   Show/HideWorksop railway station

   The station is built in the Jacobean style and is very ornate because it serves the Dukeries.

4. St John's Church

   Show/HideSt John's Church

   William Straw wrote a book on the history of St John's Church. Copies can be seen on top of the wardrobe in the parents' bedroom.

   

5. Victoria Square

   Show/HideVictoria Square

   Originally called Common End, the Square was later renamed for the Queen's Jubilee in 1887.

6. Chesterfield Canal

   Show/HideChesterfield Canal

   The canal is 45 miles long, running from west Stockwell to Chesterfield.

7. Bridge Street

   Show/HideW. Straw, Grocers

   The river Ryton runs underground across Bridge Street near Newcastle Avenue. This area would all have been marshland, where liquorice was originally grown - which is why the public house is called 'Liquorice Gardens'. The family lived and worked at W. Straw, Grocer and Seed Merchant before moving to 7 Blyth Grove in 1923. A photograph of what the shop looked like a century ago can be seen in the visitor reception at Mr Straw's House.

   

8. Corn Exchange

   Show/HideCorn Exchange

   The building dates back to 1851, built of Steetley stone in the Venetian Gothic style. The Winks' butcher's shop would have stood in front of this building, opposite the Straws' grocery.

9. Abbey Boys' School

   Show/HideAbbey Boys' School

   Both William and Walter attended the school on Vicar's Walk, which is now a Christian centre.

10. Worksop Priory

    Show/HideWorksop Priory

    William Senior and Mr Winks, the brothers' maternal grandfather, were church wardens at the Priory. William, Florence, David, William and Walter are buried in the Priory graveyard.

11. Canch Old Pump House

    Show/HideCanch Old Pump House

    The pump house served the corn mill opposite the priory, which was originally a monastery. It was destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries.

12. Eastgate

    Show/HideEastgate

    There were many furniture makers along Eastgate and this is where the Worksop Windsor chairs were made. Examples can be seen in the house, including Florence's childhood seat.

    

13. The Station Hotel

    Show/HideThe Station Hotel

    The hotel was part of the Posting Properties Association and would run train trips from the station with 15,000 people visiting Worksop.

14. Maltkins

    Show/HideMaltkins

    This is the site of one of many maltkins in Worksop. The railway and canal would bring in important coal and barley for the brewery trade.