BUCKINGHAM OLD GAOL & MUSEUM

Would your school like to visit our museum and learn about local history?
​Visits generally last one to two hours, depending on group size and the activities chosen but
we are flexible and can tailor your visit to meet your needs.
The topics we can offer are

• General History: Learn about how Buckingham’s history reflects aspects of national history and its involvement in significant historical events such as the struggle between the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings for the Kingdom of England, Katharine of Aragon’s visit to Buckingham or the English Civil War.

• Crime and Punishment: Having started life as a gaol, the museum still retains many features of its original function. It's therefore an ideal venue for those with an interest in the development of crime and punishment through the ages.

• Significant local events and people: Learn about the Great Fire of Buckingham in1725; ‘Protector of Buckingham’, Browne Willis; Lord Cobham of Stowe; the author, Flora Thompson; and Florence Nightingale.

 

A school visit generally consists of some, or all, of the following:

• A short talk about the gaol, given by a volunteer.

• A guided tour of the museum (with a focus on general history, crime and punishment focus, particular historical events or a mixture).

• A session handling artefacts from circa 1880-1950. These are related to the home, work and school. Children will become history detectives and try to explain the function and age of the objects. It's good fun!

• Visit an original cell - exactly as it used to be in the 19th century.

 

Because the museum is a genuine old gaol, the galleries are adapted old cells and therefore
relatively small. For class visits (maximum group size 30) we split into two groups whilst in
the museum. One has the guided tour whilst the other handles the artefacts. The groups
then swap over.

We are also able to work with you on specific projects - as we have done in 2024 with Furze
Down School and the NPHT virtual museum.