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Orchard Side
Market Place
Olney
MK46 4AJ
The Cowper and Newton Museum in Olney Buckinghamshire celebrates the work and lives of two famous local residents: William Cowper a celebrated 18th century poet; and John Newton, a prominent slave trade abolitionist who was curate in the local church. Together, Cowper and Newton wrote the ‘Olney Hymns’, including the world’s most popular hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’. The Museum building is original to the Georgian era and is presented as it would have been when William Cowper was its resident. It has a unique garden of outstanding horticultural interest as it is only planted with specimens introduced to England before 1800. Within the Museum’s collections are the literary works and personal effects of William Cowper showing a detailed insight into Georgian life and a fine collection of lace and local history artefacts. The Cowper and Newton Museum is a charitable trust run almost entirely by volunteers.
‘I was overwhelmed by the amount of collection care that is taking place in the museum with such a small number of staff and the quality of the collection of early rare pieces, it really was very impressive.’ ~Extract taken from: 2014 Collections Care Health Check, Museum Development Service, Oxford.
Hours: Tues-Sat 10.30am to 4.30pm
Museum and gardens £5.00.
Children under 16 years are free.
Admission to Gardens only £2.00.
Special Events are as published - see Website.
