Although no longer in situ, two survivals from pre-Reformation Suffolk organs formed the basis for The Early English Organ Project. The first was a soundboard (the table upon which the pipes sit) from an organ probably dismantled 1570/1580 (perhaps that built for Debenham Church in 1525) which had been converted into a dairy door in a house at Wetheringsett and discovered in 1977. A second, smaller soundboard was discovered in the coffin-house in Wingfield church-yard in 1995. This may be the organ recorded as being in the church as late as 1796. From these soundboards, it has been possible to extrapolate details of stops and pipes, and replica organs were built by Martin Goetze & Dominic Gwynn in 2001 and 2002. These instruments have toured cathedrals and churches throughout the British Isles and have been influential in the study of authentic performance of sixteenth century music. Before the discovery of these fragments, the only known major survival of organ material from this period was the organ case at Old Radnor, Wales. Details of this unique project may be found at www.earlyorgans.org.uk. Not quite so old, the organ case at Framlingham, which came from Pembroke College, Cambridge, may pre-date the Commonwealth and it is possible that the front pipes are the oldest speaking organ pipes in the country. The organ at Edwardstone is reputed to contain pipes by Bernard Smith (known as ‘Father’ Smith), who died in 1708, and the organ case at Hadleigh is his, although it came here from a house in Essex. At Nayland, the basis of the organ came from Canterbury Cathedral around 1796 after Samuel Green built a new instrument there, but some of the pipes are probably considerably older.

As is common in rural parishes, many organs were obtained secondhand, with some increase in this traffic in recent years as churches become redundant. A number of chamber organs also found their way to churches, although there are not the numbers of 18th and early 19th century instruments that are found in Norfolk. The 1777 Robert Gray instrument at Naughton is a notable example. Gray (later Gray & Davison) was a major organ-builder until the later part of the nineteenth century. After this, the firm dwindled in importance although it continued to exist into the late twentieth century. There are at least two working barrel organs in Suffolk, at Shelland and Wissington. Shelland is the only church barrel organ in the country in regular use.

There are generally more organs by leading Victorian and 20th century builders in Suffolk than in Norfolk, perhaps reflecting a different social structure and availability of money. As in Norfolk, the presence of Norman & Beard at Norwich, building organs of highest quality at competitive prices, meant that they gained a sizable part of the market. One or two Norman & Beard organs were cheaper instruments assembled from old parts by their store-keeper, George ‘Paddy’ Benson. Of the other major builders, J.W. Walker built a fair number of organs in Suffolk. Henry Willis & Sons are mainly represented by organs which came from elsewhere, although there are original examples at Thurston, Stowmarket Congregational and Walberswick, by Henry Willis I (always known as ‘Father’ Willis), III and IV respectively. St. Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich, is a ‘Father’ Willis’, but much altered. Harrison & Harrison of Durham, world-leaders since the beginning of the twentieth century, are virtually unrepresented in East Anglian parish churches apart from the luxury, Comper-cased, examples at Lound (Suffolk) and Mundford (Norfolk), although they maintained a representative in Cambridge to look after their major instruments such as King’s College and Ely Cathedral. William Hill & Son are reasonably represented in Suffolk. They amalgamated with Norman & Beard in 1916. Thomas Lewis, although his output was not as great as that of the aforementioned builders, worked to very high standards in a distinctive style and his instruments are now treasured. There is an early, small three manual Lewis at Great Wenham and a large one by Lewis & Co. (after Thomas had left the firm) at St. Peter’s, Sudbury. Alfred Hunter of Clapham worked on quite a large scale and gained some prestigious commissions. Again, the number of Hunter and Lewis organs in Suffolk contrasts with those in Norfolk as evidence of more money being available.

Apart from the major London-based firms (and Harrisons’ in Durham) mentioned above, several provincial builders did work throughout the country. Again, there are more organs by these firms in Suffolk than in Norfolk. There are several organs by J.J. Binns of Leeds, of which that in the Old Independent Church, Haverhill is of outstanding quality and importance. Other Leeds firms with organs in the county included Brindley & Forster, Abbott & Smith and Wordsworth. The latter had connections with the Sutton family (rich patrons of the Gothic revival) and their organs are often to be found in churches where the Tractarian influence prevailed. Conacher of Huddersfield and Hele of Plymouth built a number of organs in the county.

When money was at a premium, churches might turn to various standard designs which builders advertised in catalogues. Bevington supplied small instruments to churches all over the world, including about thirty in Suffolk. Shimpling is a good example. Walker, Willis and others also produced designs for ‘Model’ organs. ‘Father’ Willis Model Organs can be found at Dennington and Groton (although both came from elsewhere) and just across the border at Great Horkesley, Essex. The most famous example of this type is the ‘Willis-on-Wheels’ at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Lewis produced the very small ‘Lieblich’ organ, of which an example is now to be found at Kettlebaston. Later examples of ‘Model’ organs can be found at Bramfield, Kirton and Worlington (‘Premier’ organ by Cousans of Lincoln), Santon Downham and Thrandeston (by Osmond of Taunton), Mildenhall RC (Compton ‘Miniatura’ organ) and Buxhall (Mander ‘Denham’ organ). Thomas Casson, a banker from Denbigh who retired early to build organs, produced a range of ‘Positive’ organs which incorporated various devices to produce melodic and bass effects from single manual instruments with only a few ranks of pipes. Up to twenty of these organs were supplied to Suffolk churches, including an unusual two manual instrument at Redgrave. Henry Jones built a large number of organs, mostly of small to moderate size, but well-built and voiced. At the cheaper end of the market, Thomas Jones was another builder who issued a catalogue of small designs, exemplified by the organs at Baleham, Blaxhall, Burgh, Denston, Halesworth RC and Stanstead. Albert Pease similarly built cheap but robust instruments. W.H. Prosser of Westminster (an ex-Bevington man) supplied a number of organs in the county, at least one of which (Ashbocking) was supplied through Chappell, the piano and music supplier. In a similar fashion, A&J Godball kept a music shop in Ipswich and supplied organs from other builders. W.C. Mack of Great Yarmouth is supposed to have supplied organs rather than building them. In the case of A.T. Miller & Son of Cambridge, A.H. Miller, the son of the founder, did not build organs although he made all the arrangements and then let his staff do the work. Miller’s Music Shop still exists in Cambridge, but the organ side was bought out by E.J. Johnson. There are several ‘one-offs’ by small or short-lived firms such as the organs at Great Bricett, Herringfleet and Westleton – the latter based on an earlier chamber organ and coming into the class of rather eccentric instruments which also includes Chediston and the piano-shaped organ at Cransford.

Small local builders included Joseph Hart of Redgrave, Chapell of Mildenhall, Sturgeon of Hartest, Stiddolph of Woodbridge, George Green of Ipswich and Harper of Newmarket. On a rather larger scale, Stanton Gildersleeve of Bury St. Edmunds built a number of small organs and the Rayson family of Ipswich did much work throughout the eastern counties. The major Suffolk builder was and is Bishop & Son, the longest-established firm of organ builders in the country. James Chapman Bishop was apprenticed to Benjamin Flight, probably in 1795, and set up on his own in London in 1807. The firm was bought out by one of its employees, E.H. Suggate, in 1880 and he purchased premises in Ipswich in the late 1890s, which subsequently became the main base for Bishop & Son. Today, Bishops’ London and Ipswich branches remain busy. For many years, the Ipswich branch was under the direction of John Budgen. In addition to the routine business of organ building and maintenance, he acquired a reputation as a restorer of barrel organs. Under his direction, the firm restored the organ at Framlingham. This and a number of similar projects gained them a good reputation for dealing with historic instruments. John Budgen moved to Wiltshire some years ago, working on his own as an organ builder but retaining an association with Bishop and Son.

Peter Bumstead, who is an accomplished player as well as an organ maker, was trained at Bishop & Son’s Ipswich branch and has since become well-established, with a particular reputation for restoring historic instruments. Examples of his restoration work are at Butley, Little Waldingfield and Spexhall, and new organs at Old Newton and Snape, the latter with a particularly striking case. Robert Pulham of Charsfield builds organs in strictly traditional style with intricately carved casework. Chelmondiston and Dunwich are examples.


David Drinkell BA, FRCO(CHM), ADCM, ARCM
Organist & Choir Director
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist,
St. John’s
Newfoundland


Next: A GAZETTEER OF ORGANS IN SUFFOLK by David Drinkell