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The Workhouse and Infirmary
Atmospheric Victorian workhouse
Upton Road, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0PT
Important notice
The Workhouse and Infirmary is now closed for the winter season, reopening on Wednesday 14 February 2024 except for the Southwell Lantern Walk on 09 December 2023 at 16.30. Please look at the things to see and do section for details on the event.
Whole property
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £15.40 £14.00 Child £7.70 £7.00 Family £38.50 £35.00 1 adult, up to 3 children £23.10 £21.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Book shop
Second-hand bookshop.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed in the car park and front field but are not permitted in the house or garden. Assistance dogs only in the house and garden.
Cafe
Café located in Firbeck Infirmary. Indoor and outdoor seating available. The café is open for hot and cold drinks, soup, pasties, snacks, cakes and ice cream. Other than in the cafe, food and drink is not permitted inside the buildings.
Guided tour
Guided tour available on a first-come first-served basis at 11am each day of opening. Guided tour not guaranteed.
Car park
Free parking, 200 yards from Workhouse in visitor car park
Toilet
Toilets are available at visitor reception and in Firbeck Infirmary. There are not toilets available in The Workhouse main building.
Blue Badge parking. Accessible toilets. Ramped entrances. Upper floors are stairs only. Partly accessible outdoors route.
Accessible toilet
Narrow corridors
There are a few areas with narrow access in the workhouse main building.
Designated parking
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 0PT'.
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
Planning your visit
Article
Bringing your dog to The Workhouse and Infirmary
The Workhouse and Infirmary is a one pawprint rated place. Discover all you need to know about visiting The Workhouse and Infirmary with your dog.
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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.
Firbeck Infirmary
Infirmary which supported ill Workhouse inmates, eventually adapting 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.
Firbeck Café
Comfortable and reflective café offering hot and cold drinks, soups, sandwiches, snacks and cakes with seating indoors and outdoors.
Things to see and do
'Identity' - A NEW creative exhibition at The Workhouse
The Midlands Textile Forum have delved into The Workhouse's history, stories and legacy to create this evocative and revealing exhibition where the concept of people is at the very heart of its design.
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The Knittingale Hospital at The Workhouse and Infirmary
A knitted tribute to the NHS is being displayed at The Workhouse and Infirmary. It was created by internationally-recognised 94 year-old Margaret Seaman. Find out more about the opportunity to see this creative display today.
Article
'Identity' - A creative exhibition by the Midlands Textile Forum
The Midlands Textile Forum have delved into The Workhouse's history, stories and legacy to create this evocative and revealing exhibition where the concept of people is at the very heart of its design.
Article
Things to see and do at 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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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.
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Family-friendly things to do at The Workhouse and Infirmary
Entertain the whole family this autumn at The Workhouse and Infirmary. Discover unique stories in the atmospheric buildings and 'Workhouse: Live' on selected dates throughout half term, go on an adventure in the grounds and stop for a bite to eat in Firbeck Cafe. You'll also find plenty of hands-on activities for everyone to discover, from active trails to digital devices.
Eating
Eating at The Workhouse
Located on the ground floor of Firbeck 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.
Upcoming events
Event
Southwell Lantern Walk
Join Southwell Town Council and National Trust on a seasonal guided lantern walk exploring the grounds of the Workhouse and Infirmary.
About The Workhouse and Infirmary
Walking up the paupers' path towards The Workhouse it is easy to imagine how the Victorian poor might have felt as they sought refuge here. This austere building, the most complete workhouse in existence, was built in 1824 as a place of last resort for the destitute. Its architecture was influenced by prison design and its harsh regime became a blueprint for workhouses throughout the country.
This rural workhouse was designed to house around 160 inmates. They lived and worked in a strictly segregated environment with virtually no contact between the old and infirm, able-bodied men and women and children
The stories of those who lived and worked here in the 1840s help bring the building to life and prompt reflection on how society has tackled poverty through the centuries.
'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 at The Workhouse and Infirmary, as well as research from nine other places in our care. By clicking this link, 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 Firbeck Infirmary
Learn about the concept and the history of The Workhouse and Firbeck Infirmary and the role that they played.
Art and collections
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Collections at The Workhouse and Firbeck 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
Article
Our work at The Workhouse and Firbeck Infirmary
Discover how we care for The Workhouse, Southwell and the items in its collection, including original Victorian wallpaper from the Firbeck Infirmary.
Project
Project
Re-imagining The Workhouse
Learn how a project to restore Firbeck Infirmary unfolded, the stories being told and how it’s helping to shape conversation about care, 150 years after it first opened.
Support us
Volunteer with us
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with The Workhouse.