COWPER MEMORIAL MUSEUM

Registered charity 310521 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as COWPER AND NEWTON MUSEUM - HOME OF OLNEYS HERITAGE

The museum commemorates the poet William Cowper, who lived in the house from 1768 to 1786, and his friend the preacher, hymnwriter and slave trade abolitionist John Newton (author of 'Amazing Grace'). It holds an important collection of lace and items relating to the archaeology and history of Olney and its surrounding villages. The historic gardens include Cowper's original summer house/study.

Objects

MUSEUM TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF THE POET WILLIAM COWPER.

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Religious Activities · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts

The accounts state that the charity broke even in the year ended 31 January 2026, with unrestricted reserves increasing to £148,872.77. The trustees report that visitor numbers were flat due to financial constraints, but the museum successfully offset costs through garden events and maintained operations despite weather-related expenses.

Automated summary of the FY2026 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

• Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
• Complaints policy and procedures
• Financial reserves policy and procedures
• Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
• Internal risk management policy and procedures
• Investing charity funds policy and procedures
• Paying staff
• Safeguarding policy and procedures
• Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
• Social media policy and procedures
• Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
• Trustee expenses policy and procedures
• Volunteer management

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

• TOM JONESchair
• AMANDA MOLCHER
• David George Purvis
• Elaine Vera Merchant
• GEOFFREY SWINDELLS
• Liam George Good
• Malcolm John Jones
• Pamela Daley
• Trevor Aldred · trustee of 2 other charities

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Milton Keynes

Income and spending

Common questions

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).