Museum celebrates 10 years since it was saved

4 hours ago

Katy Prickett

News image — Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon and educated in the tiny medieval building that houses his museum

The Cromwell Museum A 17th Century portrait of Oliver Cromwell, with shoulder-length curling mid-brown hair and moustache, wearing a white lace collar done up at the neck over a yellow under-jacket, above which is grey armour. He looks at the viewer with dark eyes. — Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon and educated in the tiny medieval building that houses his museum

A museum dedicated to telling the story of Oliver Cromwell "warts and all" marked 10 years since it became an independent charity.

The Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon, where he was born, was threatened with closure in 2014 as part of Cambridgeshire County Council budget cuts.

However, a public campaign to save it led to the setting up of the trust, which has run it since 2016. The trust said visitor numbers have now more than doubled, and it is set to expand.

Curator Stuart Orme thanked its many volunteers and added: "It's an exciting time for us as we start to plan and fundraise for our expansion over the next few years."

"We're delighted to be celebrating our 10th anniversary as an independent charity and are hugely grateful to everyone who has been a part of the story over the last decade," he added.

The Cromwell Museum A crowd of men and women in Huntingdon's town hall. They are looking towards Stuart Orme on the far right, who has grey hair and beard and is talking. There is a table with bottles of wine and glasses. There are portraits on the pale yellow walls. — A celebration of the 10th anniversary of the creation of the trust, which now runs the museum, was held in Huntingdon's town hall

The museum was originally opened in 1962 and was run by the county council until the Cromwell Museum Trust was set up.

It holds the best collection of objects in the world relating to the life and times of the 17th Century soldier and statesman.

Objects include a hat reputed to have belonged to Cromwell, death masks and writings by and about him.

"It aims to tell the story of this fascinating, complex and controversial character 'warts and all'," said Orme.

The Cromwell Museum A close-up of the inner workings of an oval-shaped 17th Century silver pocket watch. It shows the gold and silver coloured cogs and the wheels of the interior. The name of its maker is etched on the lower half of the oval, on the right. — One of the museum's latest acquisitions is a watch believed to have belonged to Oliver Cromwell

The museum puts on regular exhibitions and has seen visitor numbers increase from 6,500 to 14,000 since 2016.

In June, it purchased a four-storey Grade II-listed building in the town's market square and hoped to expand into it over the next five years.

A celebratory event was held on 17 April to thank the many people who have been involved in the museum, including volunteers, past and present trustees, councillors, donors and historians.

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