Buckingham Old Gaol

Over het museum

Buckingham Old Gaol was built in 1748 with money from Richard Grenville Temple, Viscount Cobham. The town needed a secure prison after the earlier gaol, part of the castle, burnt down in the great fire of 1725. A proper gaol also helped Buckingham regain the right to hold the county summer assizes, which brought status to a town. The building was given battlements and arrow-slits in the Gothic style so that it looked like a strong fortress, even though that style was already old-fashioned.

In 1839 the architect George Gilbert Scott, who was born nearby, added the extension with the front door, which had been the gaoler's house, and built further cells. The assizes moved back to Aylesbury in 1849, and the gaol lost its importance. It later served as a fire station and stood derelict from 1892.

The local council bought the building in 1974, and in 1985 it passed to the Buckingham Heritage Trust. The museum opened in 1993, and a glass roof, funded by the National Lottery, was added over the exercise yard in 2000.

Today the museum is run by volunteers through the Buckingham Old Gaol Trust, a registered charity. Its displays follow the history of Buckingham from fossils, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings to the present day, with a collection of coins, original cells, a permanent exhibition on the author Flora Thompson and a section of the Buckinghamshire Military Museum collection.

Hoogtepunten

• Original cells and exercise yard of the 1748 gaol
• Coins including a rare Half-Angel found near the town
• Permanent exhibition on the author Flora Thompson
• Buckinghamshire military collection with uniforms and weapons
• Local history from fossils and Romans to the present
• Audio tour, guided tours and a virtual tour

Vaste collectie

• Buckingham local history – Displays on Buckingham from fossils, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings to the present, with coins, the Civil War and the First World War.
• Flora Thompson exhibition – The only permanent exhibition dedicated to the author of Lark Rise to Candleford.
• Buckinghamshire Military Museum exhibit – Uniforms, weapons, miniatures and personal items telling the story of the county's citizen soldiers.

Opgericht

1993

Beheerder

Buckingham Old Gaol Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Free admission for Art Fund members, Buckingham Old Gaol Trust members, Museums Association members, Young Archaeologists' Club members, serving members of the UK Armed Forces and veterans, each with the relevant card or ID. Passengers of Buckingham Area Rural Transport (BART) get £1 off with their bus ticket.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Because of the historic building, access is not step-free throughout. A wide lift in the exercise yard serves the lower ground floor and the mezzanine, but the upper floor is normally reached by steep, narrow stairs that wheelchairs cannot use; a wider alternative route can be arranged with staff. The accessible toilet is on the lower ground floor, and staff must unlock a fire door to reach it; more accessible toilets are in Cornwalls Meadow car park, about 100 m away. A hearing loop is in the Tourist Information Office. Disabled parking is in the market square outside and in Cornwalls Meadow car park. Floors are uneven in places and lighting and temperature vary between rooms. A sensory guide, a virtual tour, dyslexia-friendly display boards, a quiet space on request and a sensory pack for children are available. Visitors with access needs are asked to phone at least 30 minutes before arrival.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderfeestjes

There are reduced child tickets and a family ticket. The museum runs events for children and offers hands-on artefact handling for school groups. The Old Exercise Yard can be hired for children's parties for up to 20 children. A sensory pack with fidget toys is available if a child feels overwhelmed.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is on Market Hill in the centre of Buckingham. Passengers on the Buckingham Area Rural Transport (BART) service get a discount on entry.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel

The Cell Shop is on the ground floor beside the Tourist Information Centre. Public toilets are in Cornwalls Meadow car park.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen

Tot 50 personen.

The Old Exercise Yard with its mezzanine can be hired for meetings and talks (seats 50), events and celebrations, children's parties (for up to 20 children) and paranormal research nights, with prices starting at £30 per hour for meetings and £100 per hour for events.

Je bezoek plannen