Page 79 - Phonebox Magazine March 2012

Nx I M B Y
A celebration of
things on our doorstep that we often overlook: in my back yard. This month the Cowper & Newton Museum.
I have lived in Olney for around 18 years, and for almost every one of those years I used to say “I really must go to the museum”. Well, last year we did. So now, I say YOU REALLY MUST go to the
museum. It is a positive delight. We actually went to see
an art exhibition upstairs, but the look of disappointment on the curators face when we said we didn’t want to see round the museum was too great, and we handed over our few pounds and took off.
First off are the gardens behind the house. Absolutely beautiful. They are planted strictly with plants that would have been popular at the time of Cowper and Newton living there. Proper English country gardens with an effortless charm about them. Peaceful too.
Then there is the tiny Summer House - a little hideaway that Cowper used to think and write in, a peek inside transports you straight back in time. He called it his ‘verse factory’. But my favourite? The house and its occupants were really brought to life by learning there that Cowper kept, and adored, three pet Hares - Puss, Tiney and
Bess. Almost the
first thing you see
on entering the
museum is a port-
hole, through which
the hares could
make their way to
the parlour and
entertain Cowper of
an evening. He said
each had different
personalities, Tiney being sulky, Bess courageous and Puss the tamest of all three.
We are told that the front door of the house was usually kept locked to keep the hares from escaping. Visitors took second place, having to go around the back for entry! Nether-the-less, curious Puss fashioned an escape. I won’t spoil it for you here, you can discover the dramatic
story for yourself in the museum!
I suppose I had expected the museum to be a dusty old dry place that would bore the socks off me (memories of many a school trip). But it has been put together with love and imagination. The everyday workings in a county town in the late 1700s is brought to life in front of your eyes, and the house is full of character and stories. If you are slightly interested in gardening, you really shouldn’t miss seeing the flower garden, pond area and orchard. For the rest of us it is just a lovely place that deserves our support not just because it’s a local treasure, but because it puts on a great show. Good job. If you haven’t been yet, go - right now! HB
Illustration of Puss’ escape by Lily Stephens
PANCAKE RACE BY 10 sECs
Olney Pancake Results:
1st: Devon Byrne (left) in a time of 58.5 seconds.
2nd: Jo Livesey (Pictured to the right of Devon on the picture to our right)
3rd Orsi Racz (to the left of Devon on the picture to our right)
Congratulations to everyone who entered.
More pics on our website
Phonebox Magazine 79