The Cobbe Collection

The Cobbe Collection The collection of historic keyboard Instruments, including ones owned or played by famous composers

Happy Birthday Edward Elgar! To celebrate, our Piano of the Week is a beautiful Broadwood piano built in 1844 and once o...
02/06/2026

Happy Birthday Edward Elgar!

To celebrate, our Piano of the Week is a beautiful Broadwood piano built in 1844 and once owned by the renowned English composer.

On the soundboard of the piano Elgar recorded the titles of the works he was mainly busy with at Birchwood - Caractacus, Sea Pictures, Dream of Gerontius and… Mr Rabbit! Who might have been added on the suggestion of Elgar's daughter Carice as their pet companion and witness to the works.

Listen to this historic instrument in action through the Bloomberg Connects app.

The property of the Royal Academy of Music, on permanent loan to the Cobbe Collection Trust.

Discover the full story behind this piano on our website: https://www.cobbecollection.co.uk/elgars-broadwood-piano/

Join us this Tuesday 12th May as we welcome David Owen Norris to Hatchlands Park National Trust, who will introduce a ve...
09/05/2026

Join us this Tuesday 12th May as we welcome David Owen Norris to Hatchlands Park National Trust, who will introduce a very special programme of music by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Students from the Royal College of Music perform some of his most celebrated works, including Linden Lea and The Lark Ascending, on the 1920 Steinway Model 'O' that once belonged to Vaughan Williams himself. Champagne and canapés are served.

Limited tickets available below.
https://www.cobbecollection.co.uk/event/ashley-solomon-and-david-owen-norris-with-students-from-the-royal-college-of-music/

Join us this Thursday in welcoming students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama alongside acclaimed keyboard play...
28/04/2026

Join us this Thursday in welcoming students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama alongside acclaimed keyboard player James Johnstone for an afternoon of chamber music. The 1781 Kirkman harpsichord returns to the Music Room for this special performance.

Limited tickets available below
https://www.cobbecollection.co.uk/event/guildhall-cantata-ensemble-12/

The Trustees of the Cobbe Collection Trust are deeply honoured to announce that His Majesty King Charles III has graciou...
23/04/2026

The Trustees of the Cobbe Collection Trust are deeply honoured to announce that His Majesty King Charles III has graciously agreed to become Patron of the Trust. The founder of the Trust, the late Alec Cobbe, CVO, an accomplished pianist and passionate collector, assembled the unique collection of composer-related keyboard instruments now belonging to the Cobbe Collection Trust and displayed , a property of the in .

In this week’s concert, 21 April, hear the music of Schumann, Böhner and Hoffmann performed on this 1864 Steinway grand ...
20/04/2026

In this week’s concert, 21 April, hear the music of Schumann, Böhner and Hoffmann performed on this 1864 Steinway grand piano, one of the earliest to survive in England. Paolo Zanzu presents his programme: Kreisleriana.

Limited tickets available below
https://www.cobbecollection.co.uk/event/paolo-zanzu-5/

This Thursday, we host an hour of music that bridges two rich musical traditions. Students from the Royal Irish Academy ...
14/04/2026

This Thursday, we host an hour of music that bridges two rich musical traditions. Students from the Royal Irish Academy of Music perform their programme "From Dublin Archives, with a Russian Twist" at Hatchlands Park National Trust. Directed by David Adams.

Limited seats remaining. Secure your tickets below
https://www.cobbecollection.co.uk/event/royal-irish-academy-of-music-2/

Our Marie Antoinette’s Erard 1786-87   is safely back at Hatchlands Park National Trust from the Marie Antoinette’s Styl...
13/04/2026

Our Marie Antoinette’s Erard 1786-87 is safely back at Hatchlands Park National Trust from the Marie Antoinette’s Style exhibition at the V&A, after being admired by tens of thousands of their visitors. Thank you Victoria and Albert Museum for looking after it so well!

10/04/2026

Last night, BBC Radio 3 paid a beautiful tribute to our founder Alec Cobbe. A remarkable man who built one of the world's most significant collections of keyboard instruments, played by the hands of the composers themselves. His vision lives on.

Catch the segment at 1:44:28 on BBC Sounds.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002tb0x

We regret to announce the death on 31st March 2026 of our founder, Alec Cobbe, who shared with all he met his passion fo...
02/04/2026

We regret to announce the death on 31st March 2026 of our founder, Alec Cobbe, who shared with all he met his passion for music and the arts that form the core of The Cobbe Collection. He died peacefully, at his home at Hatchlands Park, on 31st March. Our thoughts are with his family and friends who will miss him greatly. There will be a private family funeral and a memorial service in the autumn.

Address

Hatchlands Park
Guildford
GU47RT

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 4pm
Tuesday 12pm - 4pm
Wednesday 12pm - 4pm
Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+44 1483 211474

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