"Builders 1841 - Unknown
organ by Thomas Elliot, London, 1819, for St. James Chapel Royal, London,
moved to Episcopal Chapel, Milverton in 1837 (see P00315),
when "addition of Pedal Pipes and other improvements" are noted by
"A.B.C.," in Musical World vol. 4, 1837;
Moved here 1841 - an inscription says: "John Clarke, a native of this
parish, desirous to promote the due performance of that part of Divine Service
which celebrates the praises of Almighty God, Presented this organ for the use
of the Parish Church. - Crick, Oct 14th, 1841." Mr Clarke, who was blind,
used himself to play the organ, and he provided for an endowment to pay his
successor. The case retains the Royal Arms; the unusual round towers at the
front corners were probably added when the organ left the Chapel Royal.
The G compass was still to be seen in 1924, and I fancy also 20 years later
(BBE). (Restored shortly after BBE's visit in 1974).
1978 John Bowen & Robert Shaftoe Northampton
Restored this almost untouched survival; Cremona pipes removed;
2009 Goetze & Gwynn Welbeck
restored to original specification; GG compass reinstated and original reeds
(which had, in the main, been stored beneath the organ)
repaired and reinstalled;
Cases
Position West gallery Type Architectural
fair case; a round tower of 8, a flat of 6 and a composited tower of 3,4,3;
all the pipes in the several compartments are the same length;
Department and Stop list
|
Pedal |
Key action Tr Stop action Me Compass-low GG Compass-high f1 Keys 30 |
|
|
1 |
Pedal Pipes Only (Bourd) |
16 |
|
|
|
|
Choir |
Key action Tr Stop action Me Compass-low GG Compass-high f3 Keys 54 |
|
|
2 |
Stop Diapason |
8 |
|
|
|
3 |
Dulciana |
8 |
TC |
|
|
4 |
Principal |
4 |
|
|
|
5 |
Flute |
4 |
|
|
|
6 |
Cremona |
8 |
fid.G, |
|
|
|
Great |
Key action Tr Stop action Me Compass-low GG Compass-high f3 Keys 54 |
|
|
7 |
Open Diapason |
8 |
|
|
|
8 |
Stop Diapason |
8 |
|
|
|
9 |
Principal |
4 |
|
|
|
10 |
Twelfth |
2 2/3 |
|
|
|
11 |
Fifteenth |
2 |
|
|
|
12 |
Sesquialtera |
II |
17.19 |
|
|
13 |
Mixture |
III/II/I |
|
|
|
14 |
Trumpet Bass |
8 |
|
|
|
15 |
Trumpet Treble |
8 |
mid.C |
|
|
|
Swell |
Key action Tr Stop action Me Compass-low C Compass-high f3 Keys 42 Enclosed |
|
|
16 |
Open Diapason |
8 |
|
|
|
17 |
Stop Diapason |
8 |
|
|
|
18 |
Principal |
4 |
|
|
|
19 |
Trumpet |
1 |
to G', Piccolo 1 1978 |
|
|
20 |
Hautboy |
8 |
|
Console
Console type En Fenêtre Stop type ebony drawstops Label type ivory Label font Gothic Pedalboard Radiating concave
Gt & Ch manuals from GG, no GG#; Pedal GG, AA, AA# & BB separate keys above
lower octave of C-f1 pedalboard;
Couplers
Swell to Great
Swell Bass to Choir
Pedal Coupler (Gt-Pd)
Pedals (Ch-Pd)
Details
Blowing Hand/Electric (BOB) Tuning modified 1/5th comma meantone Pitch a1=437Hz @ 18°C
Accessories
Lever Swell pedal
Hook down pedal for Sw/Gt - removed 1990 and replaced by a stop
underneath gt-pd;
Mixture composition:
C,,-C, 22.22
C,#-C 19.22
C# -A 15.19
Bb-F'' 15.15
Sesquialtera composition:
C,,-C, 17.19
C,#-C# 15.17
D - A 12.17
Bb-F'' 8.12"
SOURCE - (Visit Link)
"The Thomas Elliot Organ at Crick Parish Church is a rare example of an instrument following the old English tradition. The organ was originally built in 1819 by Thomas Elliot of Tottenham Court Road for the Chapel Royal at St James' Palace, London before eventually finding its current home in our church. A number of modifications have been to the instrument over the years and in 1978 a minor restoration was undertaken.
In 1999, the Church undertook a report about the condition of the organ and was advised at that time, that with routine maintenance the organ should be able to function into the foreseeable future.
However towards the end of 2003, it was reported by the organists that several pedals were not coupling through correctly to Choir manuals, resulting in some erratic sounds occurring or missing.
Michael Latham, our organ tuner at the time, suggested that these minor repairs might prove difficult to undertake and we should explore ways of getting the organ restored or renovated.
Two of the best known organ restorer companies in the UK were asked to come and inspect the organ and produce detailed reports with estimates for a complete restoration. As a result of this we set about obtaining funding for such a restoration project and this web site describes various aspects of the project as a whole. As you can see the project is now well on the way to completion.
History of the organ from 1819 up until prior to 1978 -
The organ was originally built in 1819 by Thomas Elliot of Tottenham Court Road for the Chapel Royal at St James' Palace, London; this accounts for the Royal Coat of Arms at the front of the organ gallery and the crown and mitre on the rail in front of the Renaissance style organ case. Thomas Elliot had developed in the English School having joined the famous organ builder John Snetzler in 1803. Though Snetzler was Swiss, from the time he began to build organs in England in the mid l8th century he followed the English tradition. Having left Snetzler sometime previously to set up his own business, Elliot took the young William Hill into his employment in 1815. Ten years later Hill married Elliot's daughter and became a partner in the firm which he inherited after the death of Elliot in 1832.
The organ which Thomas Elliot built for St James' Palace replaced a smaller Schrider instrument but he was restricted by having to use the same chamber. This may account for Elliot's organ having been considered unsatisfactory for its function in the Chapel. It was superseded by a larger Hill and Davidson organ in a new chamber of increased size in 1837.
The Elliot organ was first moved to St James', Old Milverton near Leamington Spa but it may never have been rebuilt there. In 1841 it was installed in the west gallery of St Margaret's, Crick having been presented by John Clarke, a blind organist who was born in Crick. A brass plate on the organ case records that:
"John Clarke, a native of this Parish, desirous to promote the due performance of that part of the Divine Service which celebrate the praises of ALMIGHTY GOD, presented this organ for the use of the Parish Church - Crick, October 14th 1841." "
SOURCE - (Visit Link)