THE HOPE JONES ORGAN RETURNS

A large lorry parked on town hall road. One side of the tarpaulin is open, showing wooden crates inside

After 4 years, the original Hope-Jones pipe organ, first installed in 1901, has been renovated and is being re-installed in our Grand Hall.

Silver organ pipes are laid out on the wooden floor of our Grand Hall

After the fire in 2015 which destroyed the organ case, bellows and console, the beautifully constructed pipes are being restored to their rightful place.

A black and white photograph of men in suits (some wearing bowler hats, some flat caps). Half sit with their backs to the organ on the stage, the other half on chairs facing it. Posters hanging advertise a speech.

The organ has been a focal point of the Grand Hall throughout the history of our old town hall building. Here it is making a guest appearance at a railway unions meeting with a speech by Richard Bell who was an MP and leader of the TUC.

A woman in a white dress playing the flute, and a man in black tie playing the guitar, stand in front of silver organ pipes in a wooden case, with red curtains either side and spotlights on them. They are on a raised wooden stage. In front are more musicians, playing drums, oboe, violin, accordion and double bass

In 2013, the organ also played a role in Little Bulb’s production of Orpheus.

After several years away it’s finally back, with the old pipes in the new Grand Hall, looking spectacular on the balcony. It took 6 people 3 days to install it.