Alistair Hardaker | Image: Cromwell's Watch (The Cromwell Museum)
Huntingdon museum secures pocket watch believed to have belonged to Cromwell after major public appeal.
The Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon has acquired one of only two pocket watches with credible provenance to have belonged to Oliver Cromwell, after a major public appeal secured funding for the 17th-century artefact.
The other watch with reasonable provenance to Cromwell is held in the collections of the British Museum. The newly acquired watch was briefly displayed at the Cromwell Museum in 2024 and has now been permanently secured following grants totalling £95,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund, together with public donations and support from the Cromwell Association and Sealed Knot Society.
The watch was made by London watchmaker William Clay, who lived on the same street as Cromwell in 1647. Cromwell is believed to have given the watch as a gift to one of his officers, John Blackwell, whilst on campaign in 1650. It was then passed down through his descendants until sold by the family in 2019 to the owner who then offered it for sale to the museum.
The museum’s curator Stuart Orme said: “This is a small and astonishingly beautiful item, a fine example of the 17th century watchmaker’s art, and we’re delighted to give it a permanent and appropriate home here in Huntingdon.”
Art Fund, with a contribution from the Wolfson Foundation, awarded £40,000 towards the purchase while The National Lottery Heritage Fund provided £55,000 covering the purchase price balance, support for a display case and development of a related education programme.
The watch is now on permanent display at the Cromwell Museum, which is home to a g collection relating to Cromwell’s life, housed in the building where Cromwell went to school.
