The Cromwell Museum’s Expansion Project

Why does the Cromwell Museum need to expand?

The Cromwell Museum tells the story of one of Britain’s most complex and internationally significant figures, Oliver Cromwell, and has the best collection of artefacts in existence relating to him. The collection has nearly 1,000 items, including portraits, clothing, miniatures, arms and armour and historical documents written by or about Cromwell. The museum is operated by an independent charity, the Cromwell Museum Trust.

The Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon was founded in 1962, housed in the centre of the town in a beautiful, if tiny, medieval building. Over recent years it has been refurbished, attracted record visitor numbers and been dubbed “a national museum in a matchbox”. Its limitation is its tiny space, some 70m squared, which restricts the amount that can be displayed and the number of visitors that can be accommodated. The space and building means that we have no toilets, a limited shop space and no café – facilities which visitors expect from most museums – and has limitations for school and group visits.

The proposal to expand follows record-breaking success for the Cromwell Museum. Visitor numbers in 2024/25 exceeded 15,000, the highest in over 30 years, with over 1,000 schoolchildren receiving outreach sessions or visiting in person. The museum generated more than £465,000 for the local economy last year and received national press coverage and TV features.

With all this in mind, the Cromwell Museum Trust has the ambition to expand the museum beyond its current building.

Expanding into where and how?

Thanks to the Combined Authority’s Market Towns programme, Huntingdon Town Council has now acquired a listed building, 7–8 Market Hill, just across the road from the existing museum building on its behalf. The 360m squared Grade II listed building, vacant for five years, will be transformed into the museum’s new home with four times the current display space, a café, shop, research and education areas. The project has been supported so far by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Huntingdon Town Council and Huntingdonshire District Council.

What benefits will an expanded Cromwell Museum bring?

The new museum will have much more space to bring to life the story of Cromwell and the key events that took place in the mid-17th century. It will have a dedicated temporary exhibition gallery to host changing displays, and a research room for those looking into this period to use. A larger museum is likely to double its annual visitors as well as boosting the local economy by up to £1 million a year.

What will happen to the existing Museum building?

The existing museum building – the town’s oldest – will continue to welcome visitors for the next few years. It’s an amazing building which the museum will retain and interpret as Cromwell and Pepys’ school and use it as a flexible space for education sessions, exhibitions, and community use.

How much will the new Museum cost and when will it open?

Work is now underway on building surveys, design planning, and further fundraising, with a target opening date of 2030. The museum trust is aiming to raise £5.5 million to convert the new building and establish the collection in its new home. We are already talking to large funding bodies about support towards this project.

How can you help?

It's an exciting project - for the Museum, for Huntingdon and for those interested in the 17th century. Can you help make this a reality? We always welcome new volunteers to help with the Museum, and if you feel able to donate – small or large amounts, everything is appreciated!