GOING back in time might not be physically possible, but there are places in the UK where it feels like you can do exactly that.
Museums and well-preserved towns offer a brief window into how the country would’ve been at certain stages in its history.
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However, there’s one place in England that offers an experience that’s altogether much more immersive.
Mr Straw’s House in Worksop has been preserved since the 1920s, and it contains over 30,000 pieces of treasured memorabilia.
Visitors on TripAdvisor claim it’s like “stepping back in time” thanks to the period pieces, furniture and household decor.
Guests will have the chance to see how the Straw family lived throughout the 20th century.
In 1886, William Straw moved to Worksop, Nottinghamshire, to work at a greengrocers with his brother Benjamin.
William married Florence and the couple went on to have three children together before moving into the semi-detached house in 1923.
A description on the National Trust website says: “The modest semi-detached house at 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.”
The National Trust acquired the property in 1990, turning it into a time-warp attraction thanks to the treasured items found in the home.
Household items and other possessions remain exactly where the Straw family left them.
There are several highlights in the former family home, including a row of servant’s bells, which sit above the door in the kitchen.
Even though the Straw family never had any servants, the bells were kept because they were part of the original build.
Other highlights among the thousands of artefacts include a watercolour painting which was made by Florence – the wife of Mr Straw.
History fans will want to glimpse the Baby Daisy vacuum – a vacuum cleaner dating from the late 1800s, which took two people to operate.
According to the National Trust, William’s book is another highlight visitors need to try and see during a trip to the residential home.
The book entitled St John’s Church was written by William Straw to mark the centenary of the local church.
All of these items are contained within 7 Blyth Grove, while the house next door, 5 Blyth Grove, is a dedicated reception area and a tea room.
In addition to the red-brick Edwardian building, there’s also a small garden area that features a greenhouse, a collection of cacti and several fruit trees.
Overnight stays in and around Worksop
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The tiny tourist attraction has been praised by visitors in their reviews on TripAdvisor.
One person wrote: “This is a time Capsule to the past. There’s a small bookshop, a cafe, toilets, car parking and a small garden area.”
Another person added: “The house is like stepping back in time – it’s a real eye opener.
“You think you’ll have seen it all before in museums etc, but you really haven’t. It’s definitely a one-off and well worth a visit.”
Someone else said: “I Loved this, as we have a house of a similar period, so it was fantastic to see what it would have been like in the 1920s. The best National Trust property we’ve been to.”
Entry tickets to Mr Straw’s House cost £8 for a full-paying adult and £4 for a child, with National Trust members going free.
Mr Straw’s House is a 15-minute walk from Worksop Train Station, which offers trains to places like Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield and Lincoln.
There are plenty of other things to do in Workshop, including Clumber Park – a huge country park that’s also part of the National Trust.
Three other UK attractions that are like ‘stepping back in time’
- Llancaiach Fawr Manor in Trelewis has been restored and furnished as it would have been in 1645, with staff acting as if it is in fact the 1600s. Guests will have the chance to meet the likes of Edward Prichard, the master of the house, and Mistress Mary Prichard, his wife.
- The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley allows visitors to see what life would’ve been like between the 1850s-1960s, with replica high streets, retro houses, businesses, pubs and even a chippy.
- The “living museum” of Beamish in County Durham allows people to see what life would have been like in the UK between the 1820s – 1950s, with replica homes, pubs, shops, businesses and more.
Meanwhile, this historic UK town is home to the largest cherry tree orchard in the world.
And this Victorian train station in the UK has been named one of the best in Europe.
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