Cowper and Newton Museum
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The Cowper and Newton Museum is a museum in
The museum is housed in a large red-brick Georgian house, called Orchard Side,[2] on the corner of Market Place in Olney.
History
The Museum building is original to the Georgian era and is presented as it would have been when William Cowper was its resident in 1768 to 1786.[3] 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 history of Olney is also presented in the Olney Rooms within the museum.
It has two unique gardens of outstanding horticultural interest as they are planted only with specimens introduced to England before 1800.
The museum first opened in 1900.[4]
The Flower Garden & Summerhouse Garden
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Originally the Summerhouse Garden belonged to the apothecary who lived next door to Orchard Side. After Thomas Aspray's death, Cowper was allowed the use of this former medicinal and herbal garden. Selected friends were allowed to visit him in the unique building in the centre of the garden, which he described as his "verse manufacturey". After the poet's death in 1800, admirers of his works visited this small "literary shrine" and many inscribed their names and dates on the walls and ceiling - the earliest found being 1802! - all of which can still be seen today.
Celebrations
In July 2022, following the securing of funding from Milton Keynes City Council, the MK Community Foundation, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, the town's Cowper and Newton Museum launched the "Amazing Grace 250" project to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Amazing Grace hymn, featuring a host of exhibitions and special events in Olney, the wider Milton Keynes area, and beyond.[5]
Other
The
The museum is promoted by the
See also
References
- ^ "John Newton (1725 – 1807)". Cowper and Newton Museum. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ "Cowper & Newton Museum". aboutbritain.com.
- ^ "The Cowper and Newton Museum (Olney)". LibraryThing.
- ^ "Cowper and Newton Museum, Olney". Culture24, UK.
- ^ "Milton Keynes looks back on amazing year of celebrations to mark 250th anniversary of hymn Amazing Grace". Milton Keynes Citizen. 6 October 2023.
- Campaign to Protect Rural England. 2012.
External links
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