Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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Town Hall New Organ 1898

Band of Hope Union in front of the Organ 1908

The committee who had carried out the arrangements for erecting the organ in the Town Hall, as a memorial of the Queen’s long reign, met on the evening of Tuesday 3rd May 1898.  It was reported that the organ would be brought here about the third week in May.  It would take about three weeks to put together, and the committee hoped to have everything ready for the 24th, the Queen’s Birthday, and to have the opening ceremony on that day.

The makers would not, however, guarantee the satisfactory completion of the work by that date, and of course the committee did not wish to hurry them, as the organ has to be tested on behalf of the committee by one of the organists of Winchester, Salisbury, or Chichester.  It was also considered inadvisable to have the opening while the Yeomanry were there, as the Hall would be otherwise engaged. It had then been thought desirable that the organ should be opened on the 20th June, which was the anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne.

At the beginning of May, the builders had almost completed the splendid new organ, which was to be placed in the Town Hall, as their workmen had been in the town during the past week making arrangements for lodgings.

The organ consisted of three complete manual and pedal, the action being on the latest improved tubular pneumatic principle.  Details were: 8 stops, 488 pipes; swell, 9 stops, 598 pipes; choir, 7 stops 426 pipes; pedal, 4 stops, 84 pipes; couplers, 8 stops; total, 36 stops, 1596 pipes.  It was seen that the putting together of such an instrument would occupy some time.

The organ was to be blown by two powerful hydraulic engines with all the necessary regulating gear. During the week the town workmen had been at work laying on the town water for these engines. The cost of making all the alterations to the platform required for placing the organ in position would not exceed £15 or £16.

However, another letter received from Messrs. Abbott and Smith, the builders, stated that they would not be able to send the organ on the 20th May, as originally intended, the builders would commence on the 13th June and everything would be ready for the formal handing over to the Corporation by the 11th July.

The committee had endeavoured to get Sir Walter Parrett, organist of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, to attend on the occasion of the opening, but he could not come, so they had obtained the services of Mr. E. H. Le Maire, organist of St. Margaret’s, Winchester.  The Vicar of Ryde had kindly promised to attend and read the prayer, after which the Jubilee hymn “Oh King of Kings” would be sung.  The Ryde Musical Society had promised to give a concert the following week.

Sources: IW Observer & RSHG Archive
Image: Roy Brinton Collection & Paul Kingswell Collection
Article: Ann Barrett