Steeple

St Michael & All Angels, Steeple (Dorset)

Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches

Improved barrel organ, 1838. Engraved on keyframe: ‘J.W. WALKER, MAKER, LONDON 1838.’ Purchased in 1858 by Rev. Nathaniel Bond, Rector of Steeple 1852-89, the organ remained in regular use until 1890. In 1943 the pipes and case were removed and used in the construction of an organ at Knowle. The organ is operated from the rear with the crank handle on the right and the blowing lever on the left, so two people are needed to operate it. A ‘protective cage’ of metal mesh encases the organ. The mechanism was restored in 1994 by John Budgen, with new pipework. Tunes recorded in 2000. Three black barrels x 12 tunes in a frame, there is no original tunelist.

References: Dorset History Centre, PE/TYN/RE/1/1; Wiltshire & Swindon Archives, D1/61/141/81 Faculty 2853 (1994); Salisbury & Winchester Journal (10 Oct. 1896) p.8; Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset (Mar. 1896) p.14; Notes and Queries (1 Apr. 1922) p.254; MacDermott (1948); Musical Opinion (Sep. 1969) p.643; Boston & Langwill (1967); Budgen (1997); Turner (2002); NPOR, D06558.