The Firs

Over het museum

The Firs is the cottage in Lower Broadheath, in sight of the Malvern Hills, where Edward Elgar was born on 2 June 1857. His father, a piano tuner and music seller, had moved to Worcestershire from Kent, and the family left the cottage for Worcester when Elgar was about two years old. Elgar later became one of Britain's best-known composers, remembered for pieces such as Nimrod and Land of Hope and Glory, and he died in February 1934.

After his death his daughter Carice bought the cottage, and it was opened as a museum in his memory. Over the following decades it was altered several times to hold a growing collection of manuscripts, letters, photographs and personal belongings. The Elgar Centre, a modern visitor centre built in 2000, added exhibition and function space next to the cottage. In 2016 the National Trust took over running the site, and the Elgar Society continues to support it.

Today the visitor centre tells Elgar's life story in a rotunda display and recreates his study around the desk and chair he used to compose. The cottage has been re-presented to give a sense of his early family life, and the garden, orchard and woodland include a Sound Garden with musical instruments for families. A regular programme of concerts, talks and family events takes place throughout the year.

Hoogtepunten

• Cottage where Elgar was born in 1857
• Elgar's Study with his desk and chair
• Rotunda display on his life from 1857 to 1934
• Cottage garden with views of the Malvern Hills
• Sound Garden with outdoor musical instruments
• Concerts, recitals and talks

Vaste collectie

• Elgar's Study – A display in the visitor centre built around Elgar's desk and chair and the tools he needed to compose and publish a symphony.
• The Rotunda – A circular display in the visitor centre telling the story of Elgar's life from 1857 to 1934 through objects, photographs, film and interactive features.
• The Birthplace Cottage – The small family home where Elgar was born, presented to show his early years.

Opgericht

1934

Beheerder

National Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices are the standard admission without Gift Aid; paying with Gift Aid adds about 10 percent (adult £12.10, child £6.10, family £33.30). National Trust members enter free. Private group visits on closed days (Tuesday to Thursday) cost an extra £200 on top of admission.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

There is wheelchair access to the visitor centre and garden but only limited access to the cottage. An accessible toilet is in the visitor centre, and there is designated mobility parking in the main car park, a drop-off point, level paths and seating. An access guide is available. Dogs on leads are welcome in the visitor centre, café and cottage garden; only assistance dogs may enter the cottage.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Doe- en voelstations
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

Families can play instruments in the Sound Garden (including a wooden drum kit, xylophones and a sound wall), explore a woodland glade and try the Elgar Soundscapes music activity. There is a free-to-play piano in the visitor centre and seasonal activities in school holidays. Baby changing is in the visitor centre and highchairs are in the café.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

From the M5, leave at junction 7, follow the A44 towards Worcester South, then the A4440 around the south of Worcester and the A44 towards Bromyard, turning off right after 0.4 mile. From the west, take the A44 towards Worcester and turn left into Crown East Lane. Follow the brown signs for Elgar Birthplace; the satnav postcode is WR2 6RH. The site is about 4 miles from Worcester.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

Little Al's Kitchen, an independently run café, can be used without paying admission. A small bookshop sells second-hand books, CDs, records and scores.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur

Several rooms in the visitor centre can be hired for classes, meetings, conferences and concerts; enquiries to the.firs@nationaltrust.org.uk.

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