In June, pupils and staff from St Vincent’s Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs, Liverpool will be visiting Olney for Seeing Together, a collaborative project as part of Amazing Grace 250. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Mrs Bernadette Buckle, Chair of Governors St Vincent’s, Dr John Patterson, Principal, staff and … Read more
Here we look at a decorative item dating from the early 1700s. A few years ago, two sheets of wallpaper were brought into the museum, from a house on the Market Place, only a few doors away. They are a marvellous and rare find – paper hangings such as these are fragile and do not … Read more
‘I am absolutely thrilled to be part of AG250: working in collaboration with celebrated composer and musician, Roderick Williams, the renown Chineke! ensemble – and dynamic project partners: The Stables and Cowper & Newton Museum. This project is my third collaboration with Williams. Previous collaborations include: Not Yet Here – a creative response to Beethoven’s … Read more
The Cowper & Newton Museum is excited to welcome Californian based production company Haven Film, to film a new documentary about the story of John Newton and Amazing Grace. Professor Bruce Hindmarsh from Regent College in Vancouver, Professor Mathew Williams, Professor John Coffey from the University of Leicester and Historian Marilyn Rouse from The John … Read more
With thanks to the National Lottery Fund and the current owners of the old Vicarage in Olney, the Cowper & Newton Museum now features a recreation of Newton’s study. The Museum was kindly granted access to the Vicarage by the current owners to film short clips in their attic room – formerly Newton’s study and … Read more
Here we focus on a nineteenth-century lace bobbin. Or at least, we’ll start with one bobbin and then look at a few others. This will allow us to peep at the varied work – sometimes fancy, sometimes very basic – coaxed into being by the requirements of this simple lacemaking tool. We’ll be looking at … Read more
In 1893, the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society published an article in ‘Records of Buckinghamshire’ titled ‘Olney Church’. BAS has kindly allowed us to reproduce their article here. We have updated the 1893 article by adding further information and sources from the Cowper & Newton Museum Collection. What might the Church of St Peter & St Paul … Read more
The reinterment of the remains of the Rev John Newton and his wife, Mary Newton, took place at the church of St Peter & St Paul, Olney on the 25th January 1893. Many newspapers reported on this event, as did the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society in their publication ‘Records of Buckinghamshire’. BAS has kindly allowed us … Read more
Join local historian Tom Jones on a Virtual Walk & Talk of the history and heritage around the area of the Market Place, Church and river in Olney on Saturday 17th April 10.30 via Zoom
No one really knows the origins of the world famous Pancake Race at Olney, but it is a long and loved tradition in the town. Within the Museum collection are two hand bells. One is fragile and retired but the other still rings out loudly to start the race. This is the retired Pancake Bell, … Read more
In 1900, the then newly opened Cowper Memorial Museum was given twelve Overseers of the Poor ledger books. They cover the period 1744 to 1820 and relate to the ‘Poor Laws’ in operation in Olney and the surrounding villages. Thanks to a very generous donation, nine of these books have been conserved and digitized, enabling … Read more
Olney & District Historical Society (ODHS) was founded in 1997 by a group of like-minded people determined to keep Olney history alive for all generations of people in the town and for those who have since moved away. The Society closed at the end of 2019 and terminated its visits to places of historical interest and … Read more
Our Museum building remains CLOSED. We are opening our gardens on limited entry. The Cowper & Newton Museum gardens will be open to welcome you on Wednesday 5th August 10.30 – 12.15 and Saturday 8th August 10.30 – 12.15
(Follow our social media accounts or check back here for further opening days & times as they become available)