“The trees are singing my music, or have I sung theirs”.

So said Edward Elgar during his time at Birchwood Lodge. It was at Birchwood Lodge, in the small hamlet of Birchwood, near Malvern, that he completed what is, arguably, his greatest music, ‘The Dream of Gerontius’. Other Elgar works associated with Birchwood include Sea Pictures and one of his Pomp and Circumstance Marches, beloved of the Last Night of the Prom.

Elgar leased the cottage for five years from 1898, using it as an idyllic haven of peace and quiet when he wanted to compose or where he could recharge his batteries after much music writing.

Birchwood Lodge, Birchwood, Storridge, may not be quite as tree surrounded today as in Elgar’s time, but it still provides an oasis of peace and calm, added to by its glorious views from house and garden, views which stretch to the Clent Hills in one direction, sweeping far beyond Worcester and its cathedral tower in another, and on to the nearby Malverns and south to Bredon Hill and the Cotswolds.

The cottage with its four bedrooms (one of which was Elgar’s study) – and a study which can double as a fifth bedroom, is on sale through Andrew Grant of Malvern.

The property briefly comprises dining hall, study, kitchen diner, large utility room and wc, living room, two bedrooms, family bathroom, further downstairs two bedrooms and shower room.

Outside the house is surrounded on all sides by gardens with the house occupying a corner position. The property is approached via a shared driveway from the main road. A pedestrian gate leads up to the front door, above which a plaque records Edward Elgar’s time at the cottage. Across the shared driveway is a small orchard. There is a lawn to the right of the property which then leads around to the more formal garden area from which the magnificent wide-ranging views can be fully appreciated. A vehicular gate giving access to a spacious double garage which the current owners use for storage. Accessed from the utility room and viewed from the kitchen is the kitchen garden with vegetable beds and borders with a variety of plants and shrubs. There is also a large well-established pond.

Paddocks: From the garden two pedestrian gates lead to the two paddocks. These are currently being used by a neighbour for grazing livestock. A large gate connects the two paddocks and a stile leads to a copse.

* For sale by modern method of auction.

GUIDE PRICE: £540,000

AGENT: ANDREW GRANT

CONTACT: 01684 563136