OUNDLE MUSEUM
MUSEUM OPEN
28th March to
1st November
2026

Saturdays
1.00pm to 4.00pm

Sundays
1.00pm to 4.00pm

FREE
ADMISSION
donations welcome

Links

Historical & Archaeological Groups

Oundle Historical Society
The Middle Nene Archaeological Society (midNAG)
The Upper Nene Archaeology Society (UNAS)

Other

Oundle and District U3A
East Northamptonshire Tourism (Nene Valley)
24 Hour Museum (Museum News & Listings)
900 Voices Digital Installation Explore a beautiful virtual river cross-section complete with wind-blown vegetation, hand-drawn paper boats and roaming wildlife inspired by the River Nene between Peterborough and Northampton.

The Gwillim Simcoe Trail

The Gwillim Simcoe Story

John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806), the first Governor of Upper Canada, was born at Cotterstock near Oundle in 1752. (The church has a fine monument to his father, a naval captain). His army service in the American War of Independence, his work in Canada and command of defence against invasion by Napoleon in the West of England would have led to higher appointment but he died in 1806.

GWILLIM SIMCOE

Elizabeth Postuma Gwillim (1762-1850), the Governor’s wife, was born at Aldwincle, near Oundle, in 1762 and was brought up by her grandmother and aunt, descendants of the Creed family. (Her mother’s grave is in All Saints, Aldwincle.) Married in 1782 and mother of eleven children, she left a valuable record of life in Canada in her diary and many sketches, paintings and maps. The chapel built by the Simcoes near their home at Wolford, Devon now belongs to Canada.

Elizabeth’s cousin William Walcot (1753-1827) left his Oundle and Ashton estate to the Simcoes’ son Rev. Henry Addington Simcoe who sold it to the Oundle brewer John Smith.