In 1900, The Cowper and Newton Museum in Olney was given the Overseers of the Poor’s levy and disbursement books covering the years 1744 to 1820. Geoff Swindells will describe how these books paint a detailed picture of life in Olney at the time, naming the people who paid the levies and those who received payments. The books cover most of these years and for the disbursements give weekly lists of those receiving help. They give the names of many of the poorer people in the town and many of the... See more >