© Maggie Kilbey & Marcel Glover 2021-2022
St Mary, Wissington (Suffolk)
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Improved barrel organ no. 32 by John Gray, London. Purchased by subscription in 1840 for £71
from Gray & Davison, but the organ was built before 1838, when Frederick Davison became a
partner in the firm.
The organ is located at the west end of the church and is operated from the rear.
Rebuilt in 1984 by Roger Pulham.
Three barrels x 10 tunes in a frame – a pointer at the side of the organ indicates which tune is
in the playing position. The third barrel has been repapered and repinned with single and
double chants, perhaps when the organ was overhauled in 1883.
References: Phillips, (1918); MacDermott (1948); Boston (1959); Boston & Langwill (1967); Turner (2002); NPOR, N00896.
BARREL 1
Tune
Metre
1.1
LM
1.2
CM
1.3
CM
1.4
CM
1.5
SM
1.6
CM
1.7
CM
1.8
SM
1.9
CM
1.10
LM
BARREL 2
Tune
Metre
2.1
LM
2.2
LM
2.3
LM
2.4
2.5
CM
2.6
CM
2.7
CM
2.8
CM
2.9
LM
2.10
87.87.47.
BARREL 3
Tune
Metre
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
76.76.
3.8
77.77.D
3.9
87.D
3.10
CM
© Maggie Kilbey & Marcel Glover 2021-2022
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
St Mary, Wissington (Suffolk)
Improved barrel organ no. 32 by John Gray,
London. Purchased by subscription in 1840
for £71 from Gray & Davison, but the organ
was built before 1838, when Frederick
Davison became a partner in the firm.
The organ is located at the west end of the
church and is operated from the rear.
Rebuilt in 1984 by Roger Pulham.
Three barrels x 10 tunes in a frame – a
pointer at the side of the organ indicates
which tune is in the playing position. The
third barrel has been repapered and
repinned with single and double chants, perhaps when the organ was
overhauled in 1883.
References: Phillips, (1918); MacDermott (1948); Boston (1959);
Boston & Langwill (1967); Turner (2002); NPOR, N00896.
BARREL 3
Tune
Metre
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
76.76.
3.8
77.77.D
3.9
87.D
3.10
CM
BARREL 2
Tune
Metre
2.1
LM
2.2
LM
2.3
LM
2.4
2.5
CM
2.6
CM
2.7
CM
2.8
CM
2.9
LM
2.10
87.87.47.
BARREL 1
Tune
Metre
1.1
LM
1.2
CM
1.3
CM
1.4
CM
1.5
SM
1.6
CM
1.7
CM
1.8
SM
1.9
CM
1.10
LM
