The magnificent 1932 Walker (IIP 26ss) organ in the Great Hall of Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth 1 sixth form college in Leicester is under imminent threat of destruction. Work will begin on 24 June to convert the Great Hall into a library, classrooms and study areas at which point the organ will have to be removed.
Despite being an imposing and largely unaltered building from 1932 the Great Hall is not listed and the organ itself has no statutory protection. Despite several professional organbuilders having seen the organ over the past few months, apparently no-one thought to advise the school to list the organ on the IBO redundant organs site. I became aware of the situation only a week ago when I was contacted by the Leicester Diocesan DOA, Simon Headley. Simon has no jurisdiction over the organ but is one of several cathedral organists who practised on the organ when they were students at the College. I also included the organ in my little 2010 book Historic Organs of Leicestershire, as I regard it as one of the best examples of an organ in a school in the state sector.
Details of the organ can be found on NPOR here (http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=D07877)
The organ is in exceptionally good condition having been maintained by Walkers until quite recently. It has the original 1932 electric action with its attendant cotton-covered wiring which would need replacing, naturally. The oak case front is imposing and visually raises this organ above the usual dreary rows of zinc drainpipes that one so often finds in organs of this era. The organ was donated to the college by Sir Jonathon North, chair of the College Corporation and Leicester Education Committee.
All the stops are full compass with the only extension/borrowing being the swell fagotto/oboe being used on the pedal, great contrasalicional being used on the pedal and pedal open wood 16 also providing the octave 8.
Although the organ has not been tuned for about four years, a quick tune of the swell reeds revealed a magnificent sound that filled the fine acoustic of the Great Hall.
The college is keen to find a home for the organ as a going concern and it would be the greatest tragedy if the organ were to be dismantled only for parts or that it went into storage for an indeterminate time.
I do have photos and some sound files. If someone can tell me how to load these I will be happy to do so.
David Shuker
At the Sign of the Pipe
Birling, Kent
Despite being an imposing and largely unaltered building from 1932 the Great Hall is not listed and the organ itself has no statutory protection. Despite several professional organbuilders having seen the organ over the past few months, apparently no-one thought to advise the school to list the organ on the IBO redundant organs site. I became aware of the situation only a week ago when I was contacted by the Leicester Diocesan DOA, Simon Headley. Simon has no jurisdiction over the organ but is one of several cathedral organists who practised on the organ when they were students at the College. I also included the organ in my little 2010 book Historic Organs of Leicestershire, as I regard it as one of the best examples of an organ in a school in the state sector.
Details of the organ can be found on NPOR here (http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=D07877)
The organ is in exceptionally good condition having been maintained by Walkers until quite recently. It has the original 1932 electric action with its attendant cotton-covered wiring which would need replacing, naturally. The oak case front is imposing and visually raises this organ above the usual dreary rows of zinc drainpipes that one so often finds in organs of this era. The organ was donated to the college by Sir Jonathon North, chair of the College Corporation and Leicester Education Committee.
All the stops are full compass with the only extension/borrowing being the swell fagotto/oboe being used on the pedal, great contrasalicional being used on the pedal and pedal open wood 16 also providing the octave 8.
Although the organ has not been tuned for about four years, a quick tune of the swell reeds revealed a magnificent sound that filled the fine acoustic of the Great Hall.
The college is keen to find a home for the organ as a going concern and it would be the greatest tragedy if the organ were to be dismantled only for parts or that it went into storage for an indeterminate time.
I do have photos and some sound files. If someone can tell me how to load these I will be happy to do so.
David Shuker
At the Sign of the Pipe
Birling, Kent