Elgar Birthplace Museum
| Elgar's Birthplace Museum | |
|
National Trust | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The birthplace cottage | |
| Grid reference: | SO80785564 |
| Location: | 52°11’55"N, 2°16’57"W |
| Information | |
| Website: | The Firs |
The Firs, now known as the Elgar Birthplace Museum in Lower Broadheath in Worcestershire was the birthplace of Edward Elgar, the composer. The cottage now houses a museum administered by the National Trust.
Edward Elgar was born at the house on 2 June 1857, and lived there for the first two years of his life. The museum comprises the Birthplace Cottage and its garden, and the modern Elgar Centre, opened in 2000, which houses further exhibitions and a function room.
History and collection
William Henry Elgar moved to Worcestershire from Kent in the 1840s, to further his business as a piano tuner. He married Anne Greening, a farmer's daughter from the Forest of Dean.[1][2] Edward William Elgar, the fourth of their seven children, was born at The Firs on 2 June 1857, and lived here until his family moved to Worcester two years later.[3]
The cottage was established as a museum in 1934, on Elgar's death, by his daughter Carice Elgar Blake.
The museum houses a broad collection of Elgar memorabilia, including original music manuscripts; letters from and to Elgar, his friends and family;[4] proofs, programmes and other items connected with Elgar's music;[5] family photographs and scrapbooks; items connected with his travels and with his hobbies including golf and cycling;[6] personal possessions, awards and honours, and film of his later years. The majority of the Elgar manuscript archive was moved from The Firs to the British Library though in 2018. Low visitor numbers and significant annual operating losses[7] saw the National Trust take the administration of the museum over in 2016.[8][9]
The Trust's administration is supported by the Elgar Society.[10]
Architecture, events and facilities
The Firs is a Grade II listed building.[11] It comprises the cottage, the Elgar Centre built in 2000 and an adjacent function room.[12][13] The cottage is constructed of brick and is of two storeys. The coach house and stables were built by Elgar's father, William Elgar, and his uncle, Henry.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Elgar Birthplace Museum) |
- The Firs: National Trust
- The Elgar Birthplace Trust - Registered Charity no. 202688 at the Charity Commission
- The Elgar Foundation - Registered Charity no. 266849 at the Charity Commission
References
- ↑ "Sir Edward Elgar". National Trust. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-firs/features/sir-edward-elgar.
- ↑ The Firs
- ↑ Cavendish, Richard (November 1994). "The Elgar Birthplace Museum". History Today 44 (11): 62. http://www.historytoday.com/MainArticle.aspx?m=13439&amid=13439. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
- ↑ Akbar, Arifa (20 November 2009). "Great composer, shame he couldn't play". The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/news/great-composer-shame-he-couldn-t-play-1824125.html.
- ↑ Taylor, Margherita. "Edward Elgar Birthplace Museum". Classic FM. https://www.classicfm.com/composers/elgar/pictures/elgar-birthplace-museum-pictures/.
- ↑ "Edward Elgar's hobbies and pastimes". National Trust. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-firs/features/the-firs---edward-elgars-hobbies-and-pastimes.
- ↑ Morley, Christopher (2 February 2017). "National Trust's grand plans for Elgar's humble birthplace". Business News. https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/national-trusts-grand-plans-elgars-12533781.
- ↑ "Edward Elgar Birthplace Museum". Discover Worcestershire. https://www.discoverworcestershire.co.uk/listing/edward-elgar-birthplace-museum/.
- ↑ Worral, Hannah (23 September 2016). "National Trust could save Elgar Birthplace Museum". Worcester News. https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/14761409.national-trust-could-save-future-of-elgar-birthplace-museum-in-lower-broadheath-near-worcester/.
- ↑ "The Elgar Society Annual Report 2015". Charity Commission. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/sector-data/top-10-charities?p_p_id=uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_resource_id=%2Faccounts-resource&p_p_cacheability=cacheLevelPage&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_fileName=0000298062_AC_20151231_E_C.pdf&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_objectiveId=A7962250&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_mvcRenderCommandName=%2Faccounts-and-annual-returns&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_organisationNumber=298062.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1178964: Elgar’s Birthplace and adjoining coachhouse and stables (Grade II listing)
- ↑ Brooks & Pevsner 2007, p. 174.
- ↑ "Visiting The Firs". National Trust. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-firs/features/visiting-the-firs-what-you-need-to-know.
- Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, 1968; 2007 Penguin Books ISBN 978-0-300-11298-6