UNDER THREAT BRADFORDIt is striking that many of the most ambitious English organs of the mid-nineteenth century were commissioned by the large nonconformist congregations of the industrial towns and cities. Among these may be numbered Eastbrook Chapel, Bradford (Methodist). William Hill built a large three manual organ of 41 registers for the Chapel in W4-45. The original specification appears in Hopkins & Rimbault's The Organ (2nd ed. p51A) and is one of the most complete examples of Hill's 'German System* instruments of the t8AO's. The Great Organ boasted 14 registers, including Quint 51/3, Tenth 3 1/5', and eight ranks of mixturework. The Swell was slightly smaller, with 13 registers, comprising a complete flue chorus (with two 2's), and a reed chorus which did not repeat Hill's earlier experiments with the use of a 16' reed. The Choir Organ was a modest, 7-sfcop division of predictable design. The Pedal Organ included a metal 16', and most (!) of a 32' open wood, as well as a Twelfth, a Sesquialtra V, and a reed. The organ case was a handsome one, in Spanish mahogany, with gilt front pipes. The organ was subsequently rebuilt in 1875, and again in 190A, when the present building was erected. It was intended to be a City centre 'mission' (like the contemporary Albert Hall, in Nottingham - another Methodist building with an important organ and an uncertain future) and has been known as 'Eastbrook Hall' since those days. It is an octagonal building, of cast-iron construction, with galleries all round and a large space below the organ for singers or an orchestra. The organ was last rebuilt in 1959, by Marshall Sykes of Leeds, who provided the present console and action, but made only limited alterations to the tonal scheme. The familiar sage must now be told, of dwindling congregations, supersedence of what was once a popular concert venue by more modern, more convenient halls, and increasing problems with the structure and fabric. The last service was held in the early autumn of 1985, and the building has been effectively closed since then. Clearly, the Hall is much larger than the congregation now requires for its worship, and, although there has been some talk of conversion to an arts centre, it stands in an unattractive corner of the City centre, and would cost a huge amount of money to repair and equip for such a purpose. As for the organ: much of William Hill's original pipework survives, though all the Pedal upperwork has disappeared over the years, and so have a number of other registers. The reeds have all been revoiced. Yet there is much here that is valuable. The organ still sounds well, and is unmistakably a mid-nineteenth century Hill. From an 'archaeological' point of view, it is (despite the losses and the alterations) a most important survival. The case would be worth saving in its own right. The problems of re-housing arc, however, formidable. As at present laid out, the instrument occupies a space some 20' wide, by 20' deep, by 25' high. Simply to move the organ would be expensive, but to this would have to be added the cost of re-actioning. If the desirable course of attempting to replace some of the missing registers and to reverse some of the alterations was adopted, further expense would be incurred. The result, though, would be a distinguished musical instrument, and one which could rightly claim considerable histroical importance. BIOS will continue to keep in touch with the church authorities about the fate of the Hall and its organ. |