Huntingdon's Oliver Cromwell Museum soars in popularity

Image source, Cromwell Museum/Simon Hill

Image caption, Oliver Cromwell played a major role in the execution of Charles I

A museum chronicling the history of Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell has broken its own record, "enjoying its highest visitor numbers in 25 years".

Cromwell, who ruled England as Lord Protector in 1653 after the execution of Charles I, was born in Huntingdon and was MP for the town.

Stuart Orme, Huntingdon's Cromwell Museum curator, said 23% more people visited than the previous year, marking its busiest year since 1999.

The museum is in Cromwell's old school.

The school is the Cambridgeshire town's oldest building and is believed to hold the best collection of objects relating to his life and times in the world.

It houses about 1,000 items including portraits, clothing, miniatures, arms and armour, and historical documents written by, or about, Cromwell.

Cromwell helped the Parliamentarian forces defeat Charles I during the Civil War, which resulted in the monarch being tried and beheaded, and he went on to become Lord Protector.

Oliver Cromwell

  • Oliver Cromwell played a major role in the execution of Charles I
  • He led the invasion of Ireland in 1649, which resulted in massacres of Catholic civilians at Drogheda and Wexford
  • He is the first commoner to become head of state in British history
  • As Lord Protector he permitted religious tolerance - although not for Catholics

Source: The Cromwell Association

Figures released by the museum show that during the 2023-4 financial year it had 13,261 visitors - an increase of more than 20%.

"This is against the 11% decline in visitor numbers reported recently by many visitor attractions nationally, as compared to pre-pandemic levels," historian Mr Orme said.

Image source, Cromwell Museum

Image caption, Cromwell attended Huntingdon Grammar School between 1610 to 1616, which is now home to the Cromwell Museum

"We've had a great year with events, exhibitions and our recent refurbishment attracting more people than ever to come to see us," he said.

"There's also been an increased awareness and interest in this fascinating period of history, which for the first time raised questions about freedom, democracy, monarchy, religious toleration, freedom of the press, the role of women, relations with Ireland, Europe, and Empire… all things we are still wrestling with today.

"As such, our visitors are finding the 1600s more relevant than ever."

The museum is operated by an independent charity, the Cromwell Museum Trust.

Its chair of trustees, Camilla Nichol, said: "These figures are tremendous news for the museum and for Huntingdon.

"It was only a few years ago that the museum was at threat of being mothballed, but... we have shown how valued it is."

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