Cromwell Museum facts for kids
The west front of the Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon. The building retains features from the medieval Hospital of St John's.
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| Established | 1962 |
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| Location | Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire |
| Type | Biographical |
The Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon, England, is a special museum. It holds many items that tell the story of Oliver Cromwell. You can also learn a bit about his son, Richard Cromwell. Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon in 1599. He lived there for more than half his life.
The museum is located in the old grammar school building. This is where Cromwell himself went to school. The museum opened in 1962. It has important objects, paintings, and old books. These items help us understand the time when Oliver Cromwell was in charge of England, known as The Protectorate. Today, a special trust looks after the museum.
Contents
The Museum Building's History
The Cromwell Museum is inside a very old building. It used to be the grammar school where Oliver Cromwell studied. Another famous person, the diarist Samuel Pepys, also went to school here.
From Hospital to School
Parts of the building are even older. They come from a medieval hospital built around 1170. This hospital was called the Hospital of St John the Baptist. It was a place that cared for the poor. David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon founded it.
In 1547, many hospitals like this changed hands. The hospital building then became Huntingdon Grammar School. The school stayed in this building for a long time. It moved to a new location in 1896.
Building Changes Over Time
The building was changed quite a lot when it was a school. It was rebuilt and made shorter. In 1863, it was remodeled. Then, in 1878, it was restored again. An architect named Robert Hutchinson led this work.
The money for this restoration came from a writer named Dion Boucicault. He paid for it in memory of his son. His son had died in a train accident in 1876. During the work, they found an old Romanesque doorway. This doorway had been hidden by bricks.
The building has other cool features. These include a small bell tower and five decorative arches. It is now a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical building.
Becoming the Cromwell Museum
In 1958, there was a temporary exhibition in Huntingdon. It celebrated the anniversary of Cromwell's death. This led the local council to start collecting items about him. They decided the empty grammar school building would be perfect for a museum.
The Cromwell Museum officially opened in 1962. It was managed by the local council for many years. The museum was updated in 1988. It also had major renovations between 2003 and 2004. New systems were put in to control the temperature.
Exploring the Collections
The Cromwell Museum has the best collection of "Cromwelliana" in the UK. "Cromwelliana" means items related to Oliver Cromwell. As of 2009, there were about 610 different items. The museum owns most of these items.
Some items are on loan from other places. The Bush family, who are descendants of Cromwell's son Henry, have loaned many things. The Royal Armouries have loaned 17th-century military gear. The Museum of London has also loaned items, including the Tangye Collection.
Portraits and Medals
The museum has several portraits of Cromwell and his family. Two of these were painted by Robert Walker. There is also a copy of a famous portrait by Sir Peter Lely. This portrait is known for showing Cromwell "warts, and everything." There's also a late portrait by Edward Mascall.
You can also see several small, detailed paintings called miniatures. These are in the style of Samuel Cooper. The museum also displays old coins from Cromwell's time. There are also several portrait medals, including a copy of the Lord Protector medal.
Cromwell's Personal Items
The museum shows a special group of objects. These were passed down through Henry Cromwell's family. One amazing item is a hat that Cromwell might have worn. He might have worn it when he ended the Long Parliament in 1653.
You can also see his personal powder flask. This was used to carry gunpowder. The museum also has an apothecary's cabinet that belonged to Cromwell. An apothecary was like a pharmacist back then. There's also a beautiful Florentine Cabinet. The Duke of Tuscany gave this cabinet to Cromwell.
Historical Documents and Books
Most of the official documents about Cromwell are kept elsewhere. They are at The National Archives in Kew. However, the museum has a large collection of old printed pamphlets. It also has copies of important texts from that time.
One example is The Humble Petition & Advice from 1657. This document explained how Parliament was organized. It also described the duties of the Lord Protector. The Cromwell Collection is nearby at the Huntingdon Library and Archive. It has one of the best collections of material on Oliver Cromwell outside of universities. This collection is free to use. It was created in 2002 with help from the Wolfson Foundation.
Museum Management Changes
In 2015, there was a proposal to close the museum. This was part of the County Council's budget plans. However, on April 1, 2016, the museum's management changed. It is now run by a charitable trust. This trust is dedicated to keeping the museum open.
