Buckingham Old Gaol | Best day out Bucks

Flora Thompson &

Lark Rise to Candleford Festival

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of Flora Thompson's birth with a special programme of events at Buckingham Old Gaol. Alongside our permanent Flora Thompson room, discover a temporary exhibition exploring her life and work, plus talks, a guided walk and a Heritage Open Day.

Special Talks by authors Suzy Stathers and John Owen Smith on Saturday evenings on 5th and 12th September. Tickets for evening talks available from the Old Gaol Museum Shop from 3rd August (£10 per person).

Heritage Open Day on 19th September offers free museum entry..

Buckingham Old Gaol Ghosthunt

Come join us as we delve into history.

8th August

8pm till 11pm

Tickets £25

Limited tickets available from the Cell shop.

Do some Time in the Old Gaol ...

Explore the cells where poachers, drunks and even the odd murderer were locked away.
(We promise we won't lock you in!)

Can you guess how one prisoner escaped over the wall of the exercise yard?

The Highs (and Lows) of Local History

Rogues and royalty.

National crisis and domestic drama.

War, fire, and funny things going on in the night: Buckingham has seen it all.

What forgotten treasures were left behind to tell the tale?

Magnificent Women of Buckingham

Queen Katherine of Aragon.
Queen Victoria.
Medical pioneer Florence Nightingale.
Author Flora Thompson.
Numerous women, from the top of society to the bottom, made their mark on Buckingham. Find out how.

Buried Treasure!

Since Saxon times, Buckingham had the privilege of hosting a royal mint.
Inspect coins from the £1.35m Lenborough Hoard, as well as our rare Half-Angel coin unearthed in 2021 within two miles of the Old Gaol.

William Paragreen of Bufflers Holt was sentenced to two months imprisonment for taking a hare from a trap.

One in three prisoners at the Old Gaol was a poacher.

Check out the Grimsdale Chronicles
Dive into the history of Buckingham! Allow local historian Ed Grimsdale to guide you through fascinating tales of our town and gaol. Go back in time.