Midwinter Cottage, Cranham

Image: © P L Chadwick Taken: 6 Mar 2011

The composer Gustav Holst (1874-1934), who was born in Cheltenham, is best remembered today for his brilliant orchestral suite "The Planets". He is remembered too, for the tune he called "Cranham", to which he set the words of the poem "In the Bleak Midwinter", and which appeared in 1906. The poem was written by Christina Georgina Rossetti some time before 1872, but not published until 1904, many years after her death. In Holst's setting it became a very popular Christmas carol. Although there have been several other settings, only that of Harold Darke, written a few years after "Cranham", has rivalled Holst's in popularity. Holst lived at "Midwinter Cottage" for a period early in the 20th century, although it did not carry that name at that time. It is widely though that he composed "Cranham" while living there. Subsequently the cottage was re-named "Midwinter Cottage" to commemorate this. The village of Cranham will be the starting point of a 35 mile footpath, called the Gustav Holst Way, which will take in places associated with the composer. Signing is well under way and hopefully work will be completed during 2011. Image

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