elgroute.qxd 13/06/07 09:25 Page 1

C

ouncil

valley to Bredon Hill. Bredon to valley

the ‘Enigma’ Variations. ‘Enigma’ the

D

istrict

view from Craeg Lea across the Severn the across Lea Craeg from view

and, most importantly, most and, Highlands Bavarian

Elgar particularly liked the wonderful the liked particularly Elgar ¤

H From the From , Olaf King , Knight Black The as ills

M here. here. Apostles

alvern which period Elgar composed works such works composed Elgar period which

The and , South the In and Cockaigne

They remained here for 8 years, during years, 8 for here remained They ¤

Circumstance’ marches, the overtures the marches, Circumstance’

Malvern Link which they named Forli. Forli. named they which Link Malvern

He composed the first two ‘Pomp and ‘Pomp two first the composed He ¤

g r o . e r i h s r e t s e c r o w t i s i v . w w w They rented this house in Alexandra Rd, Alexandra in house this rented They ¤

Carice’s initials. initials. Carice’s

g r o . m u e s u m r a g l e . w w w the Elgars returned to Malvern. to returned Elgars the

anagram of ‘Elgar’ and his, Alice’s and Alice’s his, and ‘Elgar’ of anagram

after failing to establish a career in London, in career a establish to failing after

that he wished to hear. to wished he that Caractacus

Elgar named the house Craeg Lea, an Lea, Craeg house the named Elgar ¤

l i c n u o C t c i r t s i D s l l i H n r e v l a M d n a

Following their marriage in 1889, and 1889, in marriage their Following ¤

it was the “Woodland Interlude” from Interlude” “Woodland the was it

Elgar lived here from 1899 to 1904. 1904. to 1899 from here lived Elgar ¤

l i c n u o C y t i C r e t s e c r o W , l i c n u o C y t n u o C e r i h s r e t s e c r o W

When Elgar was seriously ill in later life, later in ill seriously was Elgar When ¤

Forli, Malvern Link* Malvern Forli,

m o r f e c n a t s i s s a l a i c n a n i f h t i w

on the Malvern Hills. Malvern the on Craeg Lea, Malvern Wells* Malvern Lea, Craeg

n o i t a d n u o F r a g l E e h t y b d e h s i l b u P reputedly the hillfort called British Camp British called hillfort the reputedly

Roman invasion and whose base was base whose and invasion Roman

, who fought against the against fought who , Caractacus gives directions for a walk around Elgar’s Worcester. Elgar’s around walk a for directions gives

Elgar wrote a cantata on the life of life the on cantata a wrote Elgar

If you have enjoyed this drive, a companion leaflet companion a drive, this enjoyed have you If

At the suggestion of his mother, his of suggestion the At ¤

Festival. admission charge. admission

scale work for the 1898 Leeds 1898 the for work scale

week from February to December. There is a small a is There December. to February from week

commission to write a large- a write to commission

1am until 5pm seven days a days seven 5pm until 1am 1 from open is Museum In 1896 Elgar received a received Elgar 1896 In ¤

locations you will visit on the route. The route. the on visit will you locations various the British Camp British

appreciation of Elgar’s life and of the significance of significance the of and life Elgar’s of appreciation

Birthplace Museum where you can gain an gain can you where Museum Birthplace

nearby. point, it is constructed to begin and end at the at end and begin to constructed is it point, was opened in 2000. in opened was

Carice herself is buried is herself Carice ¤

my music, or have I sung theirs.” sung I have or music, my The adjacent visitor centre visitor adjacent The ¤

at any at leave and join can you Although

e e v v i i r r D D e e h h T T

uea n1920. in funeral Alice’s at here

he wrote to Jaeger: “The trees are singing are trees “The Jaeger: to wrote he his daughter achieved this dream. this achieved daughter his

. s s t t n n e e d d i i s s e e r r t t n n e e r r r r u u c c r r i i e e h h t t f f o o y y c c a a v v i i r r p p e e h h t t

Elgar’s String Quartet was played was Quartet String Elgar’s inspiration for much of his music. From here From music. his of much for inspiration reputed to have said. After his death, his After said. have to reputed

In contrast, the slow movement of movement slow the contrast, In ¤

urudn onrsd hc eaethe became which countryside surrounding “It’s the only wish I’ve got,” he is he got,” I’ve wish only the “It’s

t t c c e e p p s s e e r r e e s s a a e e l l p p o o s s , , s s e e m m o o h h e e t t a a v v i i r r p p l l l l i i t t s s e e r r a a ) ) * * ( ( k k s s i i r r e e t t s s a a

private funeral with no music. no with funeral private

bicycle, allowing him to explore more of the of more explore to him allowing bicycle, preserved as a museum to his memory. his to museum a as preserved

remember, however, that that however, remember,

n n a a h h t t i i w w d d e e t t a a c c i i d d n n i i s s e e s s u u o o h h

on the slopes of the Malverns. It was a was It Malverns. the of slopes the on It was here that he learnt to ride a ride to learnt he that here was It ¤ expressed the hope that it would be would it that hope the expressed

graveyard of St Wulstan’s Catholic Church Catholic Wulstan’s St of graveyard them, particularly in the centre of Malvern. Please Malvern. of centre the in particularly them, here, in a room with a view of the Malverns. Malverns. the of view a with room a in here, more than any of his later homes and homes later his of any than more

wife Alice in the in Alice wife his beside buried be to

The Dream of Gerontius of Dream The and Pictures Sea He loved his Birthplace and surroundings and Birthplace his loved He ¤

stop and get out of the car to appreciate many of many appreciate to car the of out get and stop

Elgar’s daughter Carice arranged for him for arranged Carice daughter Elgar’s ¤ , Caractacus of much completed Elgar ¤ Elgar lived here until the age of two. of age the until here lived Elgar ¤

Elgarian associations, although it will be necessary to necessary be will it although associations, Elgarian

to escape the bustle of Malvern; of bustle the escape to

St Wulstan’s Church Church Wulstan’s St

Elgar Birthplace Museum Birthplace Elgar

Rented by the Elgars from 1898 to 1903 to 1898 from Elgars the by Rented ¤ in which Elgar lived and other places with particular with places other and lived Elgar which in

Birchwood Lodge* Birchwood takes you past a number of the houses the of number a past you takes

e e v v i i r r D D e e h h T T

approximate distance is 35 miles. 35 is distance approximate

than an hour and a half to complete the route. The route. the complete to half a and hour an than

music. Without stops, it should take you no more no you take should it stops, Without music.

inspired Elgar to compose some of his greatest his of some compose to Elgar inspired is a gentle excursion through the countryside which countryside the through excursion gentle a is

A Walk around Elgar’s Malvern

Malvern is by its nature hilly and a walk around the town inevitably involves some ups and downs. But many of the Elgarian sights in Malvern cannot easily be seen from the road and a gentle stroll from the long-stay car park in Priory Road to the Elgar statue just below the A449 takes in most of the more important locations. There are also a number of places for refreshment.

WELLS ROAD WORCESTER ROAD 3 ABBEY ROAD 4 GRANGE i PRIORY ROAD GRAHAM ROAD ROAD 2 ORCHARD ROAD 5 VICTORIA ROAD CHURCH STREET 1 PRIORY ROAD 6

ALBERT ROAD CAR PARK NORTH A drive around ALBERT ROAD SOUTH 7

AVENUE ROAD Elgar’s

1. Priory Park: The park contains a plinth which once 5. The Gentlemen’s Club: The sturdy brick-and-stone supported a bust of Elgar, unveiled in 1960 and sculpted by building on the lower corner of Church Street and Grange Road Worcestershire Hilary Carruthers, at the time a student at the Malvern School of housed a gentleman’s club during Elgar’s time. Here, among Art. The bust has since been moved to the Malvern Theatres the well-appointed surroundings including a large, first-floor where it can now be seen by concert-goers. billiard room, men could relax, away from the attentions of their 2. Malvern Theatres: Opened in 1885 as the Malvern Assembly women folk! Rooms, Elgar regularly attended concerts here and the Malvern 6. The Mount*: Until he became famous, Elgar supplemented Concert Club, which he founded, still meets here regularly. The his meagre income from composing by teaching the violin to the venue was modernised in 1928 in preparation for the first Malvern girls at a private school at The Mount run by a Miss Rosa Burley. Festival, founded by theatre impresario Barry Jackson, and again Rosa became an Elgar family friend and she would often go during the late 1990s, re-opening in 1998. cycling with Elgar around the lanes of Worcestershire. She later 3. Priory Gatehouse: Elgar’s close friend, architect Troyte wrote at length about her friendship with the Elgar family. Griffith, immortalised in the seventh ‘Enigma’ Variation, had his offices in the gatehouse for many years. The gatehouse is now 7. Lawnside*: Almost facing The Mount across the road home to the Malvern Local History Museum which celebrates junction, Lawnside was also a girls’ school during the 1920s. Malvern’s Victorian heritage, including Elgar’s place in its history. Barry Jackson, organiser of the Malvern Festival, would hire Lawnside during the Festival, using the facilities to entertain 4. The Elgar Statue: The statue on Belle Vue Terrace, by guests and participants. Elgar was a frequent visitor, and there sculptor Rose Garrard, was erected in 2000. Round the base of the are photos of him at Lawnside, chatting with George Bernard accompanying fountain are inscribed the names of the ‘Enigma’ Shaw and other notable visitors. Variations, together with the first four lines of The Music Makers. There are other Elgar statues in Worcester and Hereford. * denotes properties in private ownership. elgroute.qxd 13/06/07 09:26 Page 2

This is Knightwick, a Leaving the Birthplace car park, turn right, passing in front of LEGEND 2 small village on Elgar’s 1 The Plough public house, to reach the crossroads at the far end beloved River Teme. Elgar N of Broadheath Common. In later life, Elgar often returned to the often spoke to close friends about Common to exercise his dogs. At the crossroads, turn left down Outward route : a ‘secret’ spot on the Teme near to Lightwood Lane to reach the A44. Here, turn right and continue for Elgar’s Birthplace to British Camp Knightsford Bridge, adjacent to about 5 miles through Cotheridge and Broadwas until reaching a

the Talbot Inn, which carried the & brown tourist sign to the Talbot Inn on the right. old road over the Teme. Do follow ELGAR BIRTHPLACE Return route : the sign if you can spare the time START British Camp to Elgar’s Birthplace for a drink (the Talbot brews its E.R. own range of real ales) or to explore the river here. If you do, KNIGHTWICK Other roads you must return when ready to A44 the A44 and turn right to continue A44 in the same direction as before. E.R. Elgar Route signs

BROADWAS A44 A44 Not to scale

A4440 3 Immediately after crossing the Teme WORCESTER by the new bridge on Carry on for 3¼ miles and, shortly after passing through the A44, turn left, following 4 Suckley, you reach a T-junction where you turn left towards signs to Suckley. Alfrick. After a further mile, immediately on leaving the Return to the A449, hamlet of Longley Green, just before the road swings uphill to the 18 turning right to continue left, turn right up a narrow lane sign-posted to Birchwood. for a mile towards SUCKLEY Worcester. On reaching the roundabout on the Worcester The road undulates ring road, turn left onto the 5 for 1½ miles until you A4440 and at the second reach a straight level roundabout take the second exit stretch with a collection of From Birchwood, continue in the 6 towards Leominster. At the third barns on the left. Birchwood same direction to the Worcester- roundabout take the second exit Lodge* (see over) is a short Hereford road (A4103). Turn left POWICK (A44) and after 400 metres, turn distance down an unmade then almost immediately right on the right into Crown East Lane to track on the left immediately B4219 to Cowleigh and Malvern. return to the Birthplace. beyond the brick wall of one of the barns. There is a good view of the Malverns from here, but no car park so park After a further 1¼ miles turn right at the traffic with care on the verge if you LONGLEY 17 lights into Hospital Lane and, after 200 metres, right wish to walk down to the GREEN again into Cromwell Road in front of a sturdy period cottage. building in an otherwise modern housing estate. The estate E.R. occupies the former grounds of the Powick County Lunatic E.R. Asylum, at which Elgar took up his first post as a

A449 professional musician, conducting the asylum band. During his five years in the post (1879-84), he composed a range of short pieces of music for the band to play. The asylum closed A4103 during the 1980s and many of the buildings were STORRIDGE subsequently demolished, but the core of the main building As you enter Malvern, ignore the first road B4219 E.R. was retained and converted into modern apartments. This 7 on the left (Cowleigh Bank) but take the can be seen from Harrison Close, off Fleetwood Avenue. second (Hornyold Road) and follow it round to the right. The road ends at a rather complicated junction with the main Worcester-Malvern road (A449). At the traffic lights, turn left towards As you leave Malvern, there are signs on the right to Worcester and, after 200 metres, left again at the 16 Madresfield, the family home of Lady Mary Lygon, at red post box in the wall into Alexandra Road. Forli* MALVERN LINK one time thought to be the hidden identity behind the (no.37), Elgar’s home from 1891 until 1899 (see thirteenth ‘Enigma’ Variation. But the house cannot be seen over), is on the left 300 metres from the junction. E.R. from the road, so continue towards Worcester.

GREAT 8 From Forli, turn right into Somers Road, right again into Albert Approaching the town centre with Malvern Priory on the right, MALVERN Park Road, and right yet again to rejoin the A449, now heading 14 take the first turning on the right, opposite the Mount Pleasant towards Great Malvern. Continue ahead (right hand lane) at the Hotel. Continue past the Post Office, then right into Church Street first set of traffic lights and straight on again at the second set. After a and down to the traffic lights. Many of the Elgar-related places of interest further half-mile, you enter Great Malvern town centre. There is an in the centre of the town are best explored on foot. Those not wishing to opportunity to explore Elgar’s Malvern on the return journey. do so should turn left at the lights into Graham Road. But to park, continue across the lights, taking first right into Avenue Road and first E.R. right again into Priory Road, to reach the car park. An exploration of Elgar’s Malvern is described in a separate panel. Returning to the car, 15 On the left after a half-mile, immediately beyond the junction retrace your route to the traffic lights and turn right into Graham Road. with Zetland Road, is Fairlea (83 Graham Road), the home of the Fitton family. The Fittons were a musical family, good friends of the Elgars, and Isabel, one of six children, is pictured in the sixth B4218 MALVERN ‘Enigma’ Variation. Continue along Graham Road and, at the traffic lights at the end, turn right onto the A449 towards Worcester. After 2 miles, at a T-junction in Upper WELLS 13 Colwall, turn right for the short ascent to Wyche Cutting. Passing through the cutting on the B4218 towards Malvern, the views Continue along the A449 towards Malvern Wells and Ledbury. suddenly change from Herefordshire to 9 After ¾ mile, the view to the left opens out. Bredon Hill can be Worcestershire and beyond, as the road swings glimpsed across the Severn Valley, while the open land below the road left and begins a long descent towards the town was once the Malvern golf course at which Elgar played regularly. You will centre. On reaching the A449 once more, turn left soon see on the right the distinctive features of All Saints’ Church, designed to reach the centre of Great Malvern. by Elgar’s friend and Enigma character Troyte Griffith. Almost immediately past the junction with Peachfield Road on the left, we reach

B4232 Craeg Lea (86 Wells Road), an elevated, imposing house on the right and Elgar’s home from 1899 until 1904 (see over). A449

10 Remaining on the A449, St Wulstan’s R.C. Church, where Elgar is buried, MALVERN HILLS is reached after a further 1½ miles. The church (see over) is on the left of the A449. There is a brown sign warning that you are 120 yards from Returning to the car, our Elgar’s grave, and a small car park on the right almost opposite the sign. 12 route back to Malvern is along Jubilee Drive (B4232), which winds along the west side of the hills. There are fine views A little over a half-mile beyond St Wulstan’s and still on the A449, the road climbs 11 to reach British Camp car park and the Malvern Hills Hotel. British Camp is an over Herefordshire towards the BRITISH Welsh hills from the road and also A449 Iron Age hill fort at which, according to legend, the British chieftain Caractacus (see from The Kettle Sings tearooms. CAMP over) was captured by the Romans. It is a short if steep stroll from the car park to the fort.