Famous people and the Malverns

As a fashionable Spa Resort many famous people came to visit the area including Charles Darwin, C.S. Lewis, Charles Dickens, Florence Nightingale, Peter Roget George Bernard Shaw and Sir Edward Elgar. Today people continue to be inspired by the hills including the violinist, Nigel Kennedy.

Edward Elgar

Sir Edward Elgar, the famous English composer, was born in Lower Broadheath just outside Malvern. Elgar lived in various houses in Malvern and his music was often influenced by his surroundings. He was inspired by the Malvern Hills, which he loved for their "Engiishness", to write many of his most famous works including The Enigma Variations, Caractacus, Cockaigne, The Dream of Gerontius and the Pomp and Circumstance Marches. After his death the Birthplace cottage was made into a Museum by his daughter, and now houses a unique collection of personal effects, including the desk at which Elgar composed much of his music. The museum offers visitors the chance to learn more about his fascinating life.

George Bernard Show

George Bernard Shaw was closely involved with the Malvern Drama Festival from its start in 1929. He wrote his play The Apple Cart for the first festival, and five of his plays had their premiere at Malvern Theatre.

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin visited Malvern on several occasions to take the waters, his 10 year old daughter Annie was also treated during their stay in Montreal House. Sadly she did not recover and was buried in Great Malvern Priory Church Yard.

Jenny Lind

Jenny Lind was a Victorian Soprano and was also known as the Swedish Nightingale. She was well known throughout Europe and America. She lived tor some time before her death in 1887 at Wynds Point. She is buried in Great Malvern Cemetery with a memorial in Westminster.

C. S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis lived in Malvern as a child, and went to Malvern College. Lewis introduced J.R.R. Tolkien to the Head of English, George Sayer, and The Lord of the Rings was dictated on to tape at his Malvern home.

Peter Mark Roget

Compiler of the famous Thesaurus of English words and phrases died whilst on holiday in the area and is buried in the churchyard of St. James' in West Malvern.

Sir Charles Hastings

Founder of the British Medical Association, lived in Barnards Green House,

Poolbrook Road

.

Thomas Attwood

British economist and campaigner for electoral reform, died in Malvern, on 9th March 1859.

Nigel Kennedy

The famous British violinist lived in (West) Malvern for a while.

Philip Woodward,

British mathematician and horologist, one of the developers of radar, worked at TRE where a building was later named for him and he still lives in Great Malvern as of March 2007.

George Gilbert Scott

Malvern's Priory Church was extensively restored in 1860 under the direction of Sir George Gilbert Scott. (1811-1878) the famous Victorian architect who also designed amongst others buildings and objects the 'Midland Grand Hotel' at London's St Pancras Station and the Albert Memorial. His sons George Gilbert Scott Junior and John Oldrid Scott, and grandson Giles Gilbert Scott, were also prominent architects.