ORGAN OF THE MONTH 80: February 2009
St
John the Evangelist, Swindon, Staffordshire |
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Click on the thumbnail to obtain a full-size image | ||
NPOR records that this instrument was built for "Shaw Hellier of Wombourne", but it has certainly been in this Staffordshire Anglican parish church for at least the last sixty years. It is not a "Worcester" Nicholson, but an example of the work of the Walsall-based firm (with family connections to its more famous Worcester namesake) that two years later (in 1874) became Nicholson & Lord when Edmund Lord, works foreman for 25 years, was taken into partnership. Many examples of their work remain in the Walsall and Staffordshire areas. Interestingly, the firm was taken over in the 1950s by W J Bird & Son, who themselves later sold out to Nicholson of Worcester.
BOA President Paul Carr gave a recital here last month, to mark the restoration of the Great division after water damage. He reports that the tracker action is uncomfortably heavy, but that the high Victorian decorated case (see left photo) is amazing!