Edward Elgar Birthplace Museum

Elgar's Birthplace Museum

At Broadheath, just outside the city of Worcester lies the simple cottage that in 1857 saw the birth of one of England's greatest composers, Edward Elgar. Elgar's father was the organist for Worcester Cathedral, and from an early age, he was fascinated with making music.

Edward Elgar taught himself composition, and began a brilliant career of teaching, conducting, and most of all, composing. Some of his compositions are reckoned among England's great cultural traditions, such as Land of Hope and Glory, Enigma Variations, and The Dream of Gerontius. Most familiar of all is Pomp and Circumstance.

Some museums are sterile, but not so the Edward Elgar Birthplace Museum; here the cottage is laid out as it would have been during Elgar's life, with the composer's desk, collections of family mementoes, photos, and personal memorabilia scattered throughout the rooms.

A new Elgar Centre has been built beside the cottage, and this now hosts regular recitals, lectures, and other special events, as well as acting as an exhibition area for memorabilia associated with the life of Elgar.