Built to house a shoe factory in the early to mid-19th century, this building was later used as a drill hall and armoury for the Buckingham Yeomanry. The factory belonged to the author Flora Thompson’s uncle, and it was this uncle she stayed with when she came to Buckingham.
Flora Thompson wrote Lark Rise to Candleford. A tale of life as a child growing up in the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire countryside in the late nineteenth century. The stories relate to three communities: the hamlet of Juniper Hill (Lark Rise), where Flora grew up; Buckingham (Candleford), and the nearby village of Fringford (Candleford Green).
The Old Gaol Museum has the only exhibition of Flora Thompson memorabilia in the world, and comprises photographs, first edition books, letters written by Flora, and a number of personal items.