IN 1861, as America stood on the brink of civil war, Sir Edward Elgar was a young whippersnapper of three years of age running round the back garden of 2 College Yard, Worcester.

Newly-released information from the 1861 census, shows the youngster later to become famous as one of Britain's most talented classical composers, was registered as the fourth child of five of William Elgar and his wife Ann.

Like his brothers and sisters, who ranged from one-year-old Frederick to 12 years old Henry, Edward was, as you might suspect, unmarried.

Also staying at the same address were William Elgar's younger brother Henry and the family maid Maria Poter.

Details of the Elgar household, where William's occupation is listed as "piano forte", are just a smidgen of a whole welter of fascinating details about the life and times of Worcestershire when Palmerston was Prime Minister.

The 1861 census for the county has been made available online by the UK's leading family history website www.1837online.com. and will be a treasure trove for anyone tracing their ancestors.

The census provides an intimate picture of what life was like for people living in Worcestershire in the mid-19th Century.

Not only can you now search online for relatives who lived more than 140 years ago in places like Droitwich, Evesham, Bromsgrove and Worcester, you can also search by address and find out who lived in your house in 1861. Assuming, of course, it was built.

The census also provides an insight into the local economic landscape around that time as it shows the huge impact the glass and china industries had on Worcestershire in the 1860s, with many people listing their occupations as "china polisher", "china printer", "china painter" and "assistant glass blower".

Genealogy is currently the third most popular hobby on the net. Colin Miller, managing director of 1837online.com said: "By making the 1861 census for Worcestershire available, people will be able to research their family history and local area in more detail than ever before.

This move opens up the records to many more people and will undoubtedly add fuel to our existing appetite for all things family history." The 1861 census provides detailed information about all the people occupying households, vessels and institutions in Worcestershire on the night of April 7, 1861.

People will now be able to discover where their Victorian ancestors lived; with whom they lived; how old they were in 1861; their occupations; any disabilities they may have had; and with whom they shared their homes.

The project is part of the website's roll-out of the entire 1861 census for England and Wales, totalling more than 20 million records.

Not only will visitors be able to view the original 1861 census documents as they were written, but 1837online.com has also fully transcribed the data for every household, vessel or institution that was enumerated on the night of the census, making the records much easier to decipher and search. Suddenly, the mists of time have lifted.

Illustrious past of a Regency residence

IN 1861, the Regency residence at 39 Britannia Square, Worcester was lived in by barrister Hugh Peake, his family and two servants.

Today, the owners are businessman John Lloyd and his wife Val, who has just restored the Grade II Listed property to its former glory.

The four-year project having been completed to the last detail, the house is for sale at £950,000.

This is upmarket territory, for Britannia Square has long been one of Worcester's most prestigious addresses.

Development probably began in the early 1800s and number 39 was built in 1830 and would have cost a pretty penny even then.

Thirty one years later, according to the 1861 Census, the head of the house was Hugh Peake, a 57-year-old "barrister in practice", who lived with his wife Sarah, aged 56, son Thomas and daughter Mary.

Thomas, who was 34 and unmarried was an "attorney", while Mary, 14 at the time, was described as a "scholar".

Also under the same roof, but in rather small rooms, were the two household staff. Betty Taylor, a widow aged 54 was the "housekeeper", and Betty's unmarried daughter Elizabeth, 20, held the position of "domestic servant".

Hugh Peake had been born in London, where presumably the family lived for a while, since it was also named as the birthplace of Thomas. However, Mary was born after the move to Worcester.

Mrs Taylor came from Bristol, although her daughter Elizabeth was born in Worcester.

After its early history as a private house, 39 Britannia Square was bought by the Alice Ottley school for girls in The Tything and for many years served as its sanatorium. It was sold back into private ownership 20 years ago and bought by the Lloyds four years ago.

Pub once stood in countryside

WHEN the 1861 Census was completed, there were only eight properties listed in Henwick Road, Worcester.

Now a busy residential road in the St John's district of the city, back then it was virtually open countryside. However, one golden thread running across the centuries is the Bush Inn, which lies on the corner of Henwick Road and Bull Ring.

Built in the early 1800s, it has been a well-known watering hole ever since. Today, the landlords are Diane and John Bury, who have been there since 1992. But 144 years ago, it was being run by licensed victualler Thomas Reeves. Aged 46 and born in Rochester, Kent, Thomas lived at The Bush with his 37-year-old wife Jane, who came from Ombersley, and their four children. All had been born in St John's, presumably at the Bush.

The eldest was 19-year-old Hannah, then came son Thomas (17), another son Joseph (15) and Jane (11). None was listed as being in employment. Likewise, none was married.

The sense of the pub's history was immediately evident to Diane and John when they took over. Although they carried out a substantial facelift, they were careful not to impinge on the character of the place.

"We tried not to change the traditional, old-fashioned ambience," said Diane. "It would have been easy to make all sorts of alterations, but we sat back and worked out what the pub's place was in the local community and built on it.

"In many ways, The Bush will take you in the direction it wants to go."