Mechanically, the organ is entirely new, including building frame, soundboards and wind system. The layout was rationalised so that most ranks were placed on new slider soundboards; thus much of the extension was eliminated and the number of note actions was halved. The final specification has 75 speaking stops, of which 15 are new; there are over 4, pipes, including many new ranks. Bridlington Priory. More than 6, pipes of the organ, which dates back to , will be 'disposed' of after Wolverhampton Council claimed proposals were 'no longer financially viable'.
But the Labour-led council has since been blasted for failing to move the iconic organ from its home before work at the year-old Civic Halls began. Leader of the opposition Councillor Wendy Thompson said: "If the organ was removed before the asbestos work, the organ would still be in a good condition. I'm sure they will wish more care had been taken with it, and more thought. The council revealed plans to remove the organ from its home in the roof of the Grade II-listed Civic Hall two years ago.
The organ, which was built by British firm John Compton and Company, needed to be moved to enable better ventilation for fire safety and increase stage space as part of the Civic Halls refurbishment. It has 6, pipes, which range from one-and-a-half inches to 16 feet in height. Further investigation during the works uncovered the pipes were in poor condition but now plans have had to be scrapped due to 'staggering' costs and no possibility of funding from the Heritage Lottery.
Historic England has no objection on heritage grounds to dispose of the pipes, as approved by planning officials, the council said. But the council is reviewing options to preserve the organ console. The previous post is taken from the Wolverhampton Express and Star. The first article from , the second from December ! This organ was apparently last restored less than 20 years ago by the Lichfield firm of Hawkins, organ builders. Asbestos is now being cited for its scrapping and so are the people who worked on it now in a state of terminal decline due to asbestosis?
I think a certain amount of salt needs to be applied to statements and excuses coming from the local council. The additions included Wurlitzer and Conacher pipework, some of the latter subsequently replaced according to NPOR R, percussions and grand piano! The original number of speaking stops increased from 81 to Arnold Richardson mentioned above was a classical organist of distinction. Prior to Steve being appointed organist, the organ was destined for the scrapheap after making no profit to the hall for many years.
Steve turned this around when he proved that it could be profitable by holding theatre organ concerts on the organ, which subsidise the classical organ concerts'. On the face of it the contrast with the Colston Hall at Bristol could not be greater. As we all know, they have an imaginative scheme to maintain the building as a major musical venue, with the organ included as part of the plans. Are there any obvious reasons in principle why this could not have been done at Wolverhampton?
How many of us would have been able to provide such assurance? Furthermore, the difficulties confronting Warrington and Manchester councils who know they have gold plated organ treasures two large Cavaille-Coll organs yet both are in a precarious position financially and are struggling to know how to preserve their organs, should be a warning that something of arguably less historic value - a giant, modified Compton organ that is trying to be both theatre organ and classical organ - is unlikely to be considered worthy of salvaging by the accountants.
If Wolverhampton Council had decided that on its merits it should be sold as a going concern, what prospect would there be that someone would come along, offer a reasonable price for it, pay for the dismantling, and re-erect it elsewhere? Just how much demand would there be for such an instrument, what would a reasonable offer look like to the Council for the pipework, and what would it cost to relocate? The answers to that might also explain its unfortunate demise.
The removal of the organ was part of the scheme for upgrading the venue. Sadly, Mr Tovey died during From that one cannot say whether the asbestos had been removed or was something which the structural survey identified as yet needing to be done. You are absolutely right about the parlous state of local government finances - practically everywhere.
Equally, w hat you say about a potential purchaser is, I am sure, perfectly valid. But the other difficulties you mention would remain. I wonder if they tried the Lottery Fund. It came up with the money for a first class Harrison restoration of the organ in Moot Hall, Colchester, where they retained an expert consultant in the person of Bill McVicker. That's a very good point. There's also a deeper implication in that a properly-chosen 'expert consultant' who is committed to the project, works hard and has enough experience and the right networks can personally facilitate the granting of HLF money.
Like David and others on the forum, I know of other cases where Dr McVicker has done exactly the same thing. As to local councils and they way they husband their resources, both cash and assets, I'm not convinced they necessarily come up with optimum solutions despite loud and constant bleats to the affirmative. I doubt their operating mandate handed down from central government would allow them to do much about this.
On the other hand, and like all public sector organisations, they probably do not lose as much sleep as their opposite numbers in the private sector who can face sudden wipeout if the bottom line turns red. So their financial imperatives are different when it comes to husbandry of assets such as a civic hall organ. I wonder if a simple fiscal comparison was done to at least see whether it would have been more economic to have advertised the organ for sale and removal prior to the work on the hall, compared with what actually happened?
If so, it would be interesting to see the figures. If not, why not? It could have been done on a couple of sheets of paper in a day or two by someone in the finance and accounts department.
Maybe I ought to submit a FOI request asking why my tree was apparently so much more important and worthy of preservation than the Wolverhampton Compton Some of your points are valid. Emmanuel Church, Northwood. St Monica's, Palmers Green.
Newbury Methodist Church. Hyde Park Mormon Chapel. Hyde Park Mormon chapel. St James', Weybridge. St James', Weybridge new pedal Fagot. St Andrew's. Chalkwell Park Methodist Westcliff-on-sea. St Mary's, Wimbledon. Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church. The Arabesque Trust. St Alphage. St Alphage, Great Action. St Alphage, Swell Action. Free admission but donations gratefully received Light finger buffet Nearest Underground station: Tottenham Court Road.
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