Cromwell Museum

The Cromwell Museum stands in Huntingdon, a small town on the River Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire. It occupies the former grammar school building where Oliver Cromwell studied in the early 17th century. Parts of the building date back to a medieval hospital founded in the late 12th century. The structure shows traces of its long history, including a Romanesque doorway uncovered during 19th-century repairs. It was later remodelled and restored, most notably in 1878 under architect Robert Hutchinson. The building remains a Grade II* listed structure with features such as a bellcote and decorative arches. The museum holds the best collection of Cromwell-related items in the UK, with around 610 objects. Many were donated by descendants of Henry Cromwell, Oliver’s fourth son, including his hat and powder flask. Portraits by Robert Walker and Sir Peter Lely depict Cromwell in detail, while coins and medals from the era add to the display. The museum also shows an apothecary’s cabinet owned by Cromwell and a Florentine cabinet gifted by the Duke of Tuscany. Nearby, the Cromwell Collection in Huntingdon Library offers further documents and pamphlets from the period. Inside, visitors find displays tracing Cromwell’s life from his birth in Huntingdon to his role as Lord Protector. The exhibits include personal items, official papers and military artefacts loaned by the Royal Armouries. The building’s medieval origins and later school history are visible in its stonework and layout. The museum provides a quiet space to explore Cromwell’s legacy and the town’s past. Its collections offer a focused look at one of England’s most significant historical figures.