Because Buckingham is under LOCKDOWN
the Museum is currently CLOSED.
***********
Watch this Space:
We anticipate that the Archaeologists' Report on the West End Farm's
Skeletons will be published, we hope, later
Welcome to 272 years of dank, dark, despairing prison life in what was, originally, Buckingham's Castle Gaol.
Explore the cells that housed murderers, counterfeiters, poachers and thieves. Find out who attempted risky escapes, and who didn’t survive to tell the tale.
Walk through thousands of years of local history from
ancient days to the 20th century.
See how the last Ice Age shaped local geology and reflect on the brave servicemen from Buckingham and surrounding villages who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Great War.
Arts Council of England Accredited Museum # 188
Everything you need for an exciting visit to the historic town of
Buckingham and its surrounding area.
Visit our shop for maps, books, tickets, postcards and locally-sourced gifts.
Pop to the T.I.C.to book your Old Gaol Event, or Party.
NAST END
North End Square was formerly called NAST END, a contraction of NORTH EAST END.
ADDINGTON ROAD
This former Council Estate is a tribute to Buckingham's first and, probably, only 'LORD MAYOR': the 3rd Baron Addington (John Gellibrand), a distinguishe soldier in the first World War, and an international entrepreneur who spentsix years in China during the 1920s. He returned to North Bucks and the 3rd Addington House. Luckily for Buckingham and North Bucks, he developed an interest in local government. He was elected as a Buckingham Councillor and became its Mayor in 1932-3. He drove through the scheme for Council Housing that we know as Addington Road. This enlightened development featured large gardens to the rear of its properties; growing your own vegetables was a popular hobby during and after the Recession.
THIS PAGE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FORMED!
You will notice that land behind the Workhouse. i.e. under its red caption, looks hollowed out. This was to provide material during the building of the Workhouse in 1837 and later, hard work for its inmates. The hole that the builders excavated caused an accident. To discover the sad details please press the button below and scroll down to he Black Section called the Black Hole.
The Old Gaol was built in 1748 for Richard Grenville Temple, Lord Viscount of Cobham. (Sir ) George Gilbert Scott, born in Gawcott, added Cells and a Gaoler’s house in 1839.
Prisoners were incarcerated in damp cells with no heating, lights or toilets and fed with bread, water, soup, and gruel, with meat on high days, only. They exercised in the roofless yard and spent hard times in the punishment cell for misdemeanours.
People died in the gaol, others prisoner escaped over the wall and another walked out when the gaoler went home and forgot to lock the door. It is said to be haunted and paranormal investigators are regular visitors.
The building has been a police station, a fire station, an air-raid shelter and an ammunition store. In 1984, after several threats of demolition, the building was bought for a song by a charitable trust and saved for the town.
It is now run and maintained by volunteers.
Pay us a visit and learn more about this historic town and its surroundings
Adults - £3.50, Children - £2.00 (under 5s free)
Family Ticket (2 adults & 3 Children) - £9.00
Thursday - Saturday: 10am - 4pm*
*please note: last admissions to museum at 3.30pm