Cromwell's pocket watch returns to his school!

A pocket watch with a strong historical connection to Oliver Cromwell has been acquired by the Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. The museum successfully launched a fundraising appeal to secure the artifact, which is now on permanent display. Its acquisition was made possible by grants from Art Fund and the National Lottery's Heritage Fund, alongside public donations.

The "astonishingly small and beautiful" timepiece was crafted by a watchmaker who resided near Cromwell in London from 1647. Its purchase during Cromwell's rise in the Parliamentarian army symbolized his increasing status. The watch also highlights the importance of timekeeping for influential figures in an era lacking standardized time.

This significant item was previously sold at auction in 2019 by a descendant of John Blackwell, an officer under Cromwell. The museum's new acquisition joins the world's leading collection of materials pertaining to Cromwell's life, particularly his formative years spent in Huntingdon. The only other known watch associated with the 17th-century leader is housed at the British Museum.