Land of Hope and Glory

The East Kent connections with the Elgar Family date back to at least the 18th century.

The great, great, great Grandfather of the illustrious English composer, Sir Edward Elgar, was a yeoman farmer and shop keeper in Stelling Minnis and was buried in St Marys Churchyard in 1764.

The presence of the Elgar family is recorded in various parts of East Kent, including Hythe, Folkestone, Saltwood, Dymchurch, Lyminge, Elham, Stelling Minnis, Canterbury and Dover.

Sir Edward's father was born in Dover, moving to London and eventually to Worcester where his famous son was born in 1857 - in modest and humble circumstances.

If you are visiting the beautiful East Kent countryside perhaps you might take a wander through St Marys peaceful graveyard to see if you can find the famous man's great, great, great grandfather. You need to be looking for a date on the headstone, of 1764.

Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934)