RE-OPENING MONDAY, 17th MAY !
HISTORIC PUB CRAWL
PLEASE BOOK EARLY
In the past, these walks have sold out quickly.
Buckingham Old Gaol Museum
The Old Gaol
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.
The Museum
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
The Tourist Information Centre
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.
IMAGE OF THE MONTH
MAY 2021
DIAMONDS (FROM OUR DUKE) ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND
THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM could afford to have his diamonds tacked so loosely on, that when he chose to shake a few off on the ground, he obtained all the fame he desired from the pickers-up who were generally les dames de la coeur! Our Duke never condescended to accept what he himself had dropped!
His cloaks were trimmed with great diamond buttons and diamond hat-bands, cockades and ear-rings yoked with great ropes and knots of pearls. That was, however, but for the ordinary dances. He had twenty seven suits of clothes made; the richest that embroidery, lace, silk, velvet, silver, gold and gems could contribute ; one of which was of white, uncut velvet, set all over, both suit and cloak, with diamonds valued at four score thousand pounds, besides a great feather, decorated with diamonds, as were also his sword girdle, hat and spurs.
In the Masques and Banquets with which Buckingham entertained the Court, he usually expended for the evening from one to five thousand pounds. I leave it to others to calculate the value of money ; the sums of this gorgeous wastefulness , it must be recollected , occurred before this million age of ours.
(From a note in George Villiers published in 1828.
The image is from a painting of the Duke,late in his life, by a Dutch artist which is housed in the Art Gallery of South Australia [ASGA].)
Learn More
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, was born in 1592; and was murdered in 1628;
He was a courtier, statesman, and patron of the art;s;
Villiers, a tall handsome man who loved display and jewellery was the favourite and possibly lover of King James I of England.
Despite his inglorious political and military record, Buckingham wheedled his way back into royal favour in the early years of King Charles I’s reign;
However, a disgruntled army officer assassinated him in Portsmouth.
He was the first non-Royal to be buried in Westminster Abbey, next to the tomb of King James I.