Elgar and the River Severn bridge

Inspiration for Severn Suite
by Max Sinclair
Bridge balustrade rescue

The River Severn bridge in Worcester being rebuilt

In 1781, a new stone bridge was constructed in Worcester by the great engineer John Gwynne R.A., who also built Shrewsbury, Atcham and Magdalen (Oxford) bridges, which still stand today.

By 1841, the traffic had increased considerably, and the River Severn Engineer E. Leader Williams designed a cast iron footpath on each side, for pedestrians to use, and an iron balustrade.

This graceful structure survived until the 1930s, when it was decided to widen each side of Gwynne's bridge with stonework.

This would make the bridge three times wider, and also meant the ironwork would be sent to the scrap heap.

Elgar bridge rescue

Sir Edward Elgar with his spaniel dog, Marco

In 1932, Elgar's friend Billy Reed wrote:

"One day, when I arrived at Marl Bank (Elgar's last home on Rainbow Hill), I was rushed off to see what they were doing at Worcester, widening the bridge over his beloved Severn: the old familiar bridge he had known all his life.

"I was taken there so often that I guessed he had something in his head about it.

"At last it came out - he could not bear to part with the old iron balustrades that were being removed; so he bought two lengths of them and had them brought up on lorries to Marl Bank, and set up there on a concrete bed.

The iron balustrades rescued by Sir Edward Elgar

"I thought they looked rather crazy in the garden, but took care not to say so; for he was so delighted when they were set up that we had to go out repeatedly to study them from all points of view, and discuss what colour they should be painted.

"He decided to keep them as like their old selves as possible.

"I think he used to go out and imagine that the Severn was flowing under them as of old."

Leaning on his bridge, Elgar scored his Severn Suite for the orchestra.

In the 1960s, Marl Bank was demolished and a local enthusiast salvaged the ironwork, and the prize rose Elgar planted in 1930.