Henry Willis
As many of you are aware, Redland Park possesses one of the finest pipe organs in the area, and possibly in the U.R.C. as a whole. However, less well known is the story behind the man who built it and who became indisputably the greatest of the 19th century British organ builders.
Henry, usually referred to as ‘Father’ Willis, was born in 1821 and first gained national prominence in 1851 when he built a large organ for the Great Exhibition. This instrument had several innovative features, including the use of pneumatic lever action, a radiating and concave pedal board, and thumb pistons placed between the keyboards, all features that later became the ‘norm’. After the exhibition this instrument was installed in Winchester Cathedral, where it still forms part of the present organ.
As a direct result of the excellence of this instrument, Willis was instructed to build a new organ of 100 speaking stops for St. George’s Hall, Liverpool. This led to the building of instruments for many of our Cathedrals and Concert Halls, including St. Paul’s, Westminster, Salisbury, Durham, Canterbury, The Royal Albert Hall and the Colston Hall, unfortunately destroyed by enemy action. In all he was responsible for building/rebuilding over 1000 instruments.
As many of you are aware, Redland Park possesses one of the finest pipe organs in the area, and possibly in the U.R.C. as a whole. However, less well known is the story behind the man who built it and who became indisputably the greatest of the 19th century British organ builders.
Henry, usually referred to as ‘Father’ Willis, was born in 1821 and first gained national prominence in 1851 when he built a large organ for the Great Exhibition. This instrument had several innovative features, including the use of pneumatic lever action, a radiating and concave pedal board, and thumb pistons placed between the keyboards, all features that later became the ‘norm’. After the exhibition this instrument was installed in Winchester Cathedral, where it still forms part of the present organ.
As a direct result of the excellence of this instrument, Willis was instructed to build a new organ of 100 speaking stops for St. George’s Hall, Liverpool. This led to the building of instruments for many of our Cathedrals and Concert Halls, including St. Paul’s, Westminster, Salisbury, Durham, Canterbury, The Royal Albert Hall and the Colston Hall, unfortunately destroyed by enemy action. In all he was responsible for building/rebuilding over 1000 instruments.
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His organs are characterised by the beautiful imitative reed tones, bright upperwork and reeds, and the very ‘English’ full swell sound. His workmanship, particularly in the construction of the soundboards, swell boxes, and pneumatics was second to none, evidenced by the large number of organs that still survive, including our own at Redland Park. A very interesting example of Father Willis’s work exists in St Monica’s Chapel, on the Downs, where the organ has recently been restored exactly as originally built, complete with pneumatic action.
A truly delightful instrument to play and more importantly, to listen to. In 1888 Willis electrified the action of the organ in Canterbury Cathedral and this was still working successfully when the instrument was dismantled shortly before the 2nd. World War. Henry Willis died in 1901 but his work was continued by his sons and descendants; the firm is still alive and well today. |
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Our own organ was built by ‘Father’ Willis in 1895 and installed in West Hampstead Congregational Church, London. The authorities there decided to dispose of the instrument shortly after the end of the 2nd World War and it was acquired by Redland Park and put into storage. It was eventually rebuilt and enlarged and installed in the new church in 1957. This work was carried out by the Clevedon firm of Percy Daniel & Co., who also built an entirely new fine oak console designed to match the new church furniture.
Some 75% of the pipework and all of the main soundboards, swell boxes, with the exception of the solo section were originally built by Willis and great care has been taken over the years to maintain the original Willis character. On several occasions I have been interested to hear visitors comment on the ’Willis’ sound, including one
person who used to worship at West Hampstead and in fact got married there. She said she recognised the sound immediately! Our ‘Willis’ is now well over 100 years old and with the continuance of the love and care shown in the past, should continue sounding for many, many years to come.
Michael Kearley
Some 75% of the pipework and all of the main soundboards, swell boxes, with the exception of the solo section were originally built by Willis and great care has been taken over the years to maintain the original Willis character. On several occasions I have been interested to hear visitors comment on the ’Willis’ sound, including one
person who used to worship at West Hampstead and in fact got married there. She said she recognised the sound immediately! Our ‘Willis’ is now well over 100 years old and with the continuance of the love and care shown in the past, should continue sounding for many, many years to come.
Michael Kearley