Thomas Wright was an Olney schoolmaster, local historian and a prolific author. Among his writings were biographies of Cowper and William Blake as well as editions of Persian poets such as Omar Khyam. Two of his most famous works are "The Romance of the Lace Pillow" and "The Romance of the ShoeÊMaker".
He was instrumental in raising public awarness about Olney's heritage and was the first Custodian of the Cowper and Newton Museum.
