Holst's Cheltenham

Discover the many places in Cheltenham associated with Gustav Holst and his musical family

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Holst's Cheltenham

England GL52 2AY, United Kingdom

Created By: Holst Birthplace Museum

Tour Information

Gustav Holst was born in Cheltenham in 1874, but did you know that two previous generations of his family lived in Cheltenham from the 1850s onwards?

Follow this tour to stroll through the centre of Cheltenham visiting the many places associated with Gustav, his father and his grandfather and ending with a visit to the Holst Birthplace Museum in Pittville.

If you still have energy after visiting the museum, do take the "Encore" by viewing the beautiful Grade 1 listed All Saints Church on All Saints Road with its many Holst associations.

The walk takes about two hours to complete but you can shorten it by choosing the "Skip" option to select the next point of interest you'd like to go to. If you'd prefer to choose your own route, just select "Free Roam Mode" when you start the tour. Please note that you need to be within 50ft of each Point of Interest for the detailed information to open up. An audio version is available under Settings.

TO START THE WALK, PLEASE STAND OUTSIDE THE BEEHIVE PUB, 1-3 MONTPELLIER VILLAS, GL50 2XE AND SELECT "START TOUR".

If you'd like to discover more, click here to read an article provided by the Holst Birthplace Museum about the Holst family's musical contribution to Cheltenham.


Tour Map

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What You'll See on the Tour

INTRODUCTION The first Holst to come to Cheltenham was Gustav Holst’s grandfather, Gustavus (1799-1870). He had arrived in London as a young boy in the early 1800s when his musician father Matthias moved from St Petersburg, where he had b... Read more
According to the ‘Cheltenham Annuaire’ of 1871 this was the address of Adolph and Clara, Gustav’s parents.  They met when Adolph was teaching piano to Clara, nee Lediard, born in Gloucestershire, and married at All Saints’ Church i... Read more
Previously a bank, now the Ivy Montpellier Brasserie, but a venue for balls and concerts in Victorian times.  In November 1891, when Gustav Holst was 17, this was where his ‘Scherzo’ and ‘Intermezzo’ had their premiere performances... Read more
Said to be where Adolph spent his last night drinking, in 1901.  He died at his home at 45 Bath Road, aged only 55.  
Address of Gustavus, his wife and five children in the 1861 census.  One of the five children was Adolph, later to become Gustav Holst’s father.  Adolph was born in London in 1846, moving to Cheltenham as a young boy.  He too was music... Read more
Where Gustavus, his wife Honoria, nee Gooderich, born in Norfolk, and their five children lived when Gustavus moved to Cheltenham in 1853 prior to taking up his post at Cheltenham Ladies’ College.  
The Cheltenham Civic Society raised money to erect a statue of the town’s most famous son, installed in 2008.  The sculptor was Anthony Stones and it was cast at Pangolin Editions in Chalford, Stroud. The statue was unveiled by renowned ... Read more
After completion in 1903 this became the successor to the Assembly Rooms (now Lloyds Bank) as the principal venue for major concerts in Cheltenham.  In March 1927 it hosted the Holst Festival, with Gustav conducting two performances by the... Read more
In the 1891 census Adolph and family are living here.  He is listed as organist and teacher of piano.  Gustav is listed as aged 16 and a ‘scholar’, and younger brother Emil as 14 and also a ‘scholar.’ The family moved here in 1882... Read more
In the 1901 census Adolph is living here, having separated from Mary who is now in the USA.  Gustav was in London, embarking on his career as a composer, and Emil was gaining experience as an actor, having adopted the stage name Ernest Cos... Read more
This is where Gustavus (grandfather) was living when he died in 1870.  His son Adolph (Gustav Holst’s father) was also living here at the time.
This is the site of the Assembly Rooms which were opened by the Duke of Wellington in 1816.  A major concert venue at the time where Adolph used to organise concerts and also perform.    Gustav conducted sections of his oratorio ‘Lans... Read more
Site of the Cheltenham Corn Exchange, which later became the Victoria Rooms.  This is where ‘Lansdown Castle’ was performed in full for the first time in February 1893.  Holst was only 18 years old at the time.  He left Cheltenham la... Read more
Gustav Holst was born in this building (then 4 Pittville Terrace) on 21 September 1874.  Built in 1832, the house was a private residence until 1975, when it became the Holst Birthplace Museum, run by Cheltenham Borough Council.  Since 20... Read more
A Grade 1 listed building designed by John Middleton, begun in 1865.  It has rich furnishings and a William Hill organ, although a planned tall spire was never built. The south transept rose window follows an Edward Burne-Jones design and ... Read more

 

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