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

The Cobbe Collection

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The Cobbe Collection

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

19/06/2026

Viennese Grand Piano by Conrad Graf, Vienna, c. 1819-20, with quadruple stringing

Graf was regarded as one of the supreme makers and his instruments were owned by both Schubert and Beethoven; the latter’s was also quadruple strung. Later composers who owned or chose to play Graf instruments include Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and Mahler. This is one of the very few surviving Grafs with the quadruple-stringing, having four strings to a note, instead of the usual three, producing a fuller tone.

15/06/2026

Happy Birthday Edvard Grieg (b. 1843)! One of the more recent additions in our collection, this 1904 Steinway that belonged to the Speyer family, was used in one of their soirées, to which many notable composers were invited to perform - Grieg, , , … Henry Wood noted a particular anecdote related to : during a concert in 1906, at which Grieg was about to accompany a recital of songs by his wife Nina, on the way to the piano, he tripped over a tiger skin rug and fell, his spirits had to be revived with some brandy, swiftly produced by the host.

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/

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/

07/05/2026

On Tuesday 12th May, Vaughan Williams' own 1920 Steinway Model 'O' receives its official inauguration at Hatchlands Park National Trust.

Students from the Royal College of Music perform Linden Lea and The Lark Ascending. David Owen Norris introduces the music. An idyllic evening of music, champagne and canapés 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/

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/

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 .

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/

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/

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!

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

Website

http://www.cobbecollection.co.uk/

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