Elgar Birthplace Museum facts for kids
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The birthplace cottage
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| Established | 1934 |
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| Location | Lower Broadheath, Worcestershire, WR2 6RH, England, United Kingdom |
The Firs is a special cottage in Lower Broadheath, Worcestershire, England. It's famous because the great composer Edward Elgar was born there. Today, The Firs is a museum managed by the National Trust.
Edward Elgar was born in this house on June 2, 1857. He lived there for his first two years. The museum includes the old cottage and its garden. It also has the newer Elgar Centre, which opened in 2000. The Elgar Centre has more exhibits and a room for events.
Contents
The Story of Elgar's Birthplace
How Elgar's Family Came to The Firs
Edward Elgar's father, William Henry Elgar, moved to Worcestershire in the 1840s. He was a piano tuner and wanted to grow his business. William married Anne Greening, who was a farmer's daughter. She came from the Forest of Dean.
Edward Elgar's Early Life at The Firs
Edward William Elgar was the fourth of William and Anne's seven children. He was born at The Firs on June 2, 1857. Edward lived in the cottage until he was two years old. His family then moved to Worcester.
The Firs Becomes a Museum
After Edward Elgar passed away, his daughter, Carice Elgar Blake, turned the cottage into a museum. This happened in 1934. The museum helps people learn about Elgar's life and music.
What You Can See at The Firs Museum
Amazing Elgar Memorabilia
The museum has many cool things that belonged to Elgar. You can see his original music notes and letters he wrote or received. There are also items about his music, like old programs. The museum displays family photos and scrapbooks. You can even see things from his travels and hobbies, like golf and cycling. His personal belongings, awards, and old films of him are also there.
Who Manages The Firs Today?
For a while, not many people visited the museum. It was losing money each year. So, in 2016, the National Trust took over running it. The Elgar Society helps the National Trust with this important work. The museum is officially recognized by Arts Council England.
Elgar's Music Moves to a New Home
In 2018, most of Elgar's original music papers moved from The Firs. They are now kept at the British Library. This move happened despite some people in the local area not wanting it.
The Firs Building and What's Happening There
The Cottage's Design
The Firs is a special old building. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it's important to protect. The cottage is made of brick and has two floors. The Elgar Centre, built in 2000, is also part of the museum. There is also a room next to it for events. Elgar's father and uncle built the coach house and stables.
Events and Visitors at The Firs
The museum hosts many events throughout the year. These events make visiting The Firs even more fun. Because of these events and the National Trust's help, more people are visiting. The number of visitors has grown from about 10,000 to almost 30,000 each year!
See also
- List of music museums
