Slavery

Today we took our visitors to the Cowper and Newton Museum in Olney. I've lived near it for over 35 years and kept meaning to visit but never quite got round to it. William Cowper (pronounced 'Cooper') was a prolific poet and author of the 'Olney Hymns' which includes the very well known 'Amazing Grace'. John Newton started as a seaman and later Captain on slave ships but realised how appalling the trade was and became a prominent abolitionist. The museum has this model of a section of a slave ship to try to show the conditions that the people had to endure and whilst it no doubt gives some indication, it can't possibly show how bad the conditions really were. An interesting small museum; well worth a visit if you are nearby.