The Cowper and Newton Museum
Encyclopedia
The Cowper and Newton Museum is a museum in Olney, Buckinghamshire
, England
, in the Borough of Milton Keynes
.
The museum first opened in 1900. It is housed in a large red-brick Georgian
house, called Orchard Side, on the corner of Market Place in Olney, with attached gardens.
The poet William Cowper
(1731–1800) lived here from 1768 to 1786. The history of Olney is presented in the Olney Rooms within the museum. Close by are the vicarage where the clergyman John Newton
(1725–1807), a friend of Cowper, wrote the hymn Amazing Grace
, the church at which he preached, and his grave (together with that of his wife).
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in the Borough of Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes (borough)
The Borough of Milton Keynes is a unitary authority and borough in south central England, at the northern tip of the South East England Region. For ceremonial purposes, it is in the county of Buckinghamshire...
.
The museum first opened in 1900. It is housed in a large red-brick Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
house, called Orchard Side, on the corner of Market Place in Olney, with attached gardens.
The poet William Cowper
William Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry...
(1731–1800) lived here from 1768 to 1786. The history of Olney is presented in the Olney Rooms within the museum. Close by are the vicarage where the clergyman John Newton
John Newton
John Henry Newton was a British sailor and Anglican clergyman. Starting his career on the sea at a young age, he became involved with the slave trade for a few years. After experiencing a religious conversion, he became a minister, hymn-writer, and later a prominent supporter of the abolition of...
(1725–1807), a friend of Cowper, wrote the hymn Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
, the church at which he preached, and his grave (together with that of his wife).