The museum – which is part of Cambridgeshire County Council - has secured loans from other institutions and drawn together items that help to illustrate the remarkable pomp and ceremony that marked the funeral itself.

The exhibition in Huntingdon, which runs from Tuesday, August 5 to the end of the year, is following in a local tradition.

Exactly 50 years ago at the end of July 1958 there was a major exhibition in Huntingdon Town Hall to mark the 300th anniversary of Cromwell's death.

It was the success of that exhibition that prompted the development of the Cromwell Museum, which opened four years later in 1962.

There will be some special events to accompany the exhibition. The first of these will be on Saturday, August 9 when Cromwell's doctor calls at the museum.

A re-enactor will explain the nature of Cromwell's illness and suggest some of the various treatments he may have received. Live leeches may be involved! The event runs from 10.30am –3pm and is free.

Museum curator John Goldsmith said: "When Cromwell died on September 3, 1658 he was the head of state as Lord Protector, and the event was in effect a royal funeral.

"The museum will be showing some items that have never been on display before and probably not together since November 1658."

>> The museum is open from 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm Tuesday-Sunday from now until the end of October.
For further information about the Museum visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/cromwell