Cowper and Newton Museum facts for kids
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The Cowper and Newton Museum is a special place in Olney, England. It's about 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Central Milton Keynes. This museum celebrates the lives and work of two famous people who lived there: William Cowper and John Newton.
William Cowper (1731–1800) was a well-known poet from the 1700s. John Newton (1725–1807) was a clergyman who worked to end slavery. Together, they wrote the Olney Hymns. One of these hymns is "Amazing Grace", which is famous all over the world.
The museum is in a big red-brick house called Orchard Side. This house was built in the Georgian style, which was popular in the 1700s. It stands on the corner of Market Place in Olney.
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A Look Inside the Museum
The museum building is very old. It looks much like it did when William Cowper lived there from 1768 to 1786. Inside, you can see Cowper's writings and his personal belongings. This helps you imagine what life was like in the 1700s.
The museum also has a great collection of lace. You can learn about the history of Olney itself in special rooms.
The Special Gardens
The museum has two unique gardens. They are called the Flower Garden and the Summerhouse Garden. These gardens are very special because they only have plants that were brought to England before the year 1800.
The Summerhouse Garden used to belong to a doctor next door. After he passed away, William Cowper was allowed to use it. He called the small building in the middle of the garden his "verse manufacturey." This was his special place for writing poems. After Cowper died, many fans visited this "literary shrine." They wrote their names and dates on the walls and ceiling. Some of these writings are from as early as 1802, and you can still see them today!
Celebrating "Amazing Grace"
In July 2022, the museum started a project called "Amazing Grace 250." This project celebrates the 250th anniversary of the "Amazing Grace" hymn. They received money from different groups to make this happen. The project includes many exhibitions and special events. These events take place in Olney and the surrounding areas.
Who Were Cowper and Newton?
John Newton, Cowper's friend and a clergyman, lived nearby in the vicarage. This is where he wrote the famous hymn Amazing Grace. John Newton and his wife are buried in the local churchyard.
The museum is a charity and is mostly run by volunteers. It is also supported by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
See also
