Adoption Benefits

Support the Cromwell Museum by adopting one of our iconic artefacts. Adoption lasts for 12 months. Objects are arranged in three packages, Platinum, Gold and silver with associated benefits. Please see below for more information.

Platinum Adoption Package - 

VIP invitation to Museum events for two people; credit on the credit panel in the museum; exclusive bi-monthly newsletter giving updates on the museum; special logo for your use; photo print of your object; certificate of adoption.  You can adopt the following objects in this package:

1. 1. Cromwell’s Hat:  Our most iconic object, an original 17th century hat believed to have been worn by Cromwell at the dismissal of the Rump Parliament in 1653– one adoption opportunity at £1,000
2. 2. Portrait of Cromwell by Robert Walker: Portrait of Cromwell by Robert Walker, c. 1649 – our largest and most unusual portrait of him, which is life sized and shows him quite the dandy! – One adoption opportunity at £1000
3. 3. Equestrian portrait of Cromwell: Rare equestrian portrait of Cromwell by an unknown artist, painted c. 1656. In the background is London as it was 10 years before the Great Fire – One adoption opportunity at £1000.
4. 4. Portrait of Charles I: Portrait of Charles I, circle of Peter Lely – an opportunity for any Royalists to support the museum’s work perhaps? – One adoption opportunity at £1000.
5. 5. Richard Cromwell Portrait: Rare portrait of Richard Cromwell, ‘Tumbledown Dick’ by John Hayls c. 1658, one of only two large portraits of him to survive; the other being at Chequers – One adoption opportunity at £1000.
6. 6. The Florentine Chest: A beautiful ‘Florentine Chest’ given to Cromwell as a diplomatic gift by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1656; it contains pots that would have had soaps and unguents. One has traces of orange scented soap! – One adoption opportunity at £750
7. 7. Warts and All’ portrait of Cromwell, after Sir Peter Lely: Warts and All’ portrait of Cromwell, after Sir Peter Lely – our copy of the most famous of the portraits of Oliver Cromwell, which is said to have inspired the coining of the famous phrase. – One adoption opportunity at £750
8. 8. Elizabeth Cromwell as Lady Protector: Elizabeth Cromwell as Lady Protector by Robert Walker, c.1655 – a portrait of Mrs Cromwell in a very fine gown as the ‘first lady’ of the Protectorate – One adoption opportunity at £750
9. 9. Cromwell’s travelling apothecary chest: Cromwell’s travelling apothecary chest, containing silver gilt pots for medicines and tools for making and administering them, as well as for bleeding. The pills and potions may have helped with Cromwell’s ‘ague’ (malaria) and ‘melancholia (depression). – One adoption opportunity at £750.

Gold Adoption Package - Credit on the museum website; exclusive bi-monthly newsletter giving updates on the museum; special logo for your use; photo print of your object; certificate of adoption. The following objects can be adopted within this package:

1. 1. Mortuary’ Sword: The astonishing ‘Mortuary’ Sword belonged to Oliver Cromwell, and as well as its gilt hilt still has the original fabric lanyard for looping around the wrist. This sword may be in the Walker full length portrait – Two adoption opportunities at £500 each.
2. 2. Gunpowder Flask: This lovely and beautifully decorated gunpowder flask is decorated with Cromwell’s monogram, and is made from mother-of-pearl, ivory, amber and silver. It may have been given to him whilst Lord Protector – two adoption opportunities at £500 each.
3. 3. Elizabeth Cromwell, his Favourite Daughter Painting:  Portrait of Elizabeth Cromwell, his favourite daughter, by the circle of Peter Lely. Elizabeth’s death in the summer of 1658 precipitated her father’s decline – Two adoption opportunities at £400 each
4. 4. Letter written by Cromwell:  Letter written by Cromwell to Captain Underwood on 6 June 1645, giving instructions for improvements to local fortifications. Just days later Cromwell was made second in command of the New Model Army and fought at the Battle of Naseby. It is his last known correspondence from his hometown of Huntingdon – Two adoption opportunities at £400 each
5. 5. Painting of the Battle of Marston Moor: Painting by S Ward, a 19th century painting of the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644, showing Cromwell at the heart of the battle – Four adoption opportunities at £250 each
6. 6. Portrait of Sir Thomas Fairfax: Portrait of Sir Thomas Fairfax, Cromwell’s friend and commander for the first and second Civil Wars – Four adoption opportunities at £250 each.
7. 7. Railway poster c.1950 promoting Huntingdon:  An original railway poster c.1950 promoting Huntingdon to visitors, using imagery of Cromwell and the building which is today the Cromwell Museum. Ideal for train lovers or Huntingdon folk! – Five adoption opportunities at £200 each.
8. 8. Instrument of Government: Our copy of the Instrument of Government, the constitution for the Protectorate. It was the world’s first written constitution for a nation, and heavily influenced the later American Constitution – Five adoption opportunities at £200 each
9. 9. Portrait of John Thurloe: Portrait of John Thurloe, from the circle of William Dobson. Thurlow was Cromwell’s Secretary of State, Postmaster General and Chief Intelligencer – so the man responsible for the nation’s spies! – Five adoption opportunities at £200 each
10. 10. Portrait of Elizabeth Cromwell: A charming late 17th century portrait of Elizabeth Cromwell, Oliver’s wife, as a younger woman. It is many people’s favourite feminine picture in our collection as it shows her relaxed and approachable – Five adoption opportunities at £200 each
11. 11. Portrait of Sir Oliver Cromwell: Portrait of Sir Oliver Cromwell, Cromwell’s uncle, in 1647 aged 84. At this time Sir Oliver lived at Ramsey Abbey and had been a Royalist during the Civil War! – Five adoption opportunities at £200 each
12. 12. Portrait of Edward Montagu: Portrait of Edward Montagu of Hinchingbrooke House, 1st Earl of Sandwich. Montagu was General-at-Sea to Cromwell and admiral to Charles II (who he brought back to England) and patron to his kinsman Samuel Pepys - Five adoption opportunities at £200 each
13. 13. ‘Mortuary’ Sword - Cavalry officer’s ‘Mortuary' Sword believed to have belonged to Oliver Cromwell. The sword has been passed down by his family; the blade is inscribed OC – five adoption opportunities at £200 each.

Silver Adoption Package  

Credit on the museum website; exclusive bi- monthly newsletter giving updates on the museum; certificate of adoption. The following objects can be adopted within this package:

1. 1. Gilded bronze stirrups: Pair of gilded bronze stirrups that are believed to have belonged to Oliver Cromwell – an adoption opportunity for a person who loves horses & riding? – Ten adoption opportunities at £100 each
2. 2. Naseby, Cromwell’s Flagship:  A huge model of the Naseby, Cromwell’s flagship, later used to bring Charles II back to England. This model was made by a professional modelmaker who made props for Star Wars and used this ship in ‘Muppets Treasure Island’! – Ten adoption opportunities at £100 each
3. 3. Political Cartoon: An original of a political cartoon from the Independent of 2006 by satirist Dave Brown, showing Gordon Brown as Cromwell looking at the corpse of Charles I, alias Tony Blair – Ten adoption opportunities at £100 each
4. 4. Bronze sculpture: A bronze sculpture of the famous 19th century statue of Cromwell that can be seen on the town square in St Ives, Cambridgeshire – Ten adoption opportunities at £100 each
5. 5. Cromwell’s death mask:  Early (late 17th century) cast of Cromwell’s death mask. Unlike most later 19th century copies, the forehead wart is missing, as it was on the original wax impression – Ten adoption opportunities at £100 each
6. 6. The ‘Court and Kitchen of Elizabeth Cromwell,’ 1664:  Mrs Cromwell’s cookery book, published by Royalists as a piece of anti-Cromwell propaganda. The recipes are a window into eating habits in the mid-1600s – ten adoption opportunities at £50 each
7. 7. Dunbar Medal: An original Dunbar Medal, struck to commemorate Cromwell’s victory over the Scots Covenanters at the battle of Dunbar in 1650. It is an example of the earliest campaign medal in British military history – Ten adoption opportunities at £50 each
8. 8. Painted silk funeral banner:  Painted silk funeral banner, carrier at Cromwell’s state funeral in November 1658. It is only one of four such banners that survive; one of the others was recently featured on the ‘Antiques Roadshow’ TV programme – Ten adoption opportunities at £50 each.
9. 9. Cromwell’s severed and mummified head: Perhaps the most macabre object in our collection – a modern reproduction (made for a TV documentary) of Cromwell’s severed and mummified head! The real one was safely buried at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1960. – Ten adoption opportunities at £50 each
10. 10. Cannon ball: Cannon ball from a small field gun, found on the battlefield at Marston Moor in Yorkshire. Cromwell played a significant part on the battle there in July 1644 – Ten adoption opportunities at £50 each
11. 11. Eikon Basilike:  Our copy of ‘Eikon Basilike’, a book which purported to contain the personal writings and prayers of Charles I and appeared within days of his execution in January 1649. It became a bestseller and went through 35 editions, helping to cement the image of the king as a royal martyr – Ten adoption opportunities at £50 each
12. 12. 17th century cavalry boots – A pair of boots that always get admiring glances! These 17th century cavalry boots are believed to have belonged to Colonel Whalley, who commanded one of Cromwell’s regiments of ‘Ironsides’ - Ten adoption opportunities at £50 each.

If no-one has part adopted an item in the gold or silver package, you can pledge the complete amount and be upgraded to a higher package.  For example, if you choose to take all ten adoptions for the Cannon Ball you will be upgraded to the Gold Package benefits, or if you choose to take all five adoptions for the Railway Poster you will be upgraded to the Platinum package benefits. This maybe particularly suitable for a company, a school or community group.

How to adopt an object?

Online : You may click on this Just Giving link to donate online via the Just Giving website 

By Post : Please complete the form below and return it with your donation to:

The Cromwell Museum Trust, c/o Huntingdon Library, Princes Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 3PA

Please make cheques payable to ‘The Cromwell Museum Trust’

Download Application Form