© Maggie Kilbey 2026
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Devon
Abbotsham (St Helen) : Barrel organ. Transferred to private collection. Ref: North Devon Journal (13 Oct. 1910) 8 Alphington (St Michael) : Barrel organ. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (9 Feb. 1877) 7 Ashford (St Peter) : Barrel organ. Ref: Church Bells (6 Mar. 1875) 162 & 13 Mar. 1875) 175 Beer (St Michael) : Barrel organ. Ref: T. Cann Hughes, Sir Stephen Glynne’s notes on the churches of Devon, Notes & Queries, CLXIII (5 Nov. 1932) 328–31 to CLXVI (24 Mar. 1934) 200–3 Bicton (St Mary) : Flight & Robson barrel organ. Transferred to Otterton. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (21 April 1871) p.7; NPOR, K00256 Bideford (St Mary) : Barrel organ. Ref: A. Hutchings, Church Music in the Nineteenth Century (London, 1967) 119; Turner (2000) 20 Brampford Speke (St Peter) : Improved barrel organ. Ref: George Cornelius Gorham, The Church Discipline Act made an Instrument of Vexation to the Clergy in the Diocese of Exeter (London, 1856)
Milton Abbot (Devon)
Milton Abbot
Photo: M. Kilbey
Bratton Fleming (St Peter) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1846. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1846) 275 Buckland Monachorum (St Andrew) : Henry Philip Dicker barrel & finger organ. Ref: Browne (1998) Chittlehampton (St Hieritha) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) *Chivelstone (St Sylvester) : Barrel organ. Ref: MacDermott (1948) 67 *Clawton (St Leonard) : Barrel organ. Ref: MacDermott (1948) 67 Combe Raleigh (St Nicholas) : Gray & Son barrel organ installed 1839. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 3 (1839) 108 Cornwood (St Michael & All Angels) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1841. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 3 (1841) 159 Culmstock (All Saints) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1837. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1837) 133 *Drewsteignton (Holy Trinity) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1833. Converted to finger organ 1875. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1833) 113 East Budleigh (All Saints) : Barrel organ installed 1810. Ref: T.N. Brushfield, ‘The Church of All Saints, East Budleigh, pt.1’, Transactions of the Devonshire Association for the advancement of Science, xxiii (1891) 30; Glynne, Devon (1932-4) East Down (St John the Baptist) : Gray & Davison improved barrel organ installed 1844. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1844) 257 Exbourne (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (11 Oct. 1877) 4 *Exminster (St Martin) : Flight & Robson barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Exmouth (Holy Trinity) : Barrel organ. Ref: exmouth.nub.news/news/local-news/local-historian-the-complete-guide-to-exmouths-churches-167901 [accessed 6 Jan. 2025] Fremington (St Peter) : William Hill barrel & finger organ ex private collection 1856. Ref: NPOR, D05753 Gittisham (St Michael) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1826. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1826) 48 Harpford (St Gregory) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) *Hartland (Abbey Church of St Nectan) : G.M. Holdich barrel & finger organ installed 1846. Barrel mechanism removed. Ref: Matthews (2013) 34 *Inwardleigh (St Petroc) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1846. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1846) 275 Kingskerswell (St Mary) : Barrel organ. Ref: William White, Devon History, Gazetteer and Directory of Devon County (1878) 562; Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Lee (St Matthew & St Wardrede) : Henry Philip Dicker barrel organ installed 1854. Ref: Browne (1998) Lifton (St Mary) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) *Milton Abbot (St Constantine) : Flight & Robson barrel organ installed c.1818. Ref: A Selection of PSALMS & HYMNS, AS SET ON THE Organ, The Gift of His Grace the Duke of Bedford to the Parish Church of Milton Abbot (London, c.1818); Rachel Evans, Home scenes: or, Tavistock and its vicinity (London, 1846) 202; Boston (1959) 110 Newton St Cyres (St Cyr & St Juletta) : Barrel organ. Ref: Western Times (20 Mar. 1894) p. 4 North Molton (All Saints) : Barrel organ sold 1865. Ref: North Devon Journal (30 Mar. 1865) 1 North Tawton (St Peter) : Barrel organ installed 1850. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (29 Apr. 1910) p.14; Glynne, Devon (1932-4); Browne (1998) Oakford (St Peter) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1841. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 3 (1841) 157 Otterton (St Michael) : Flight & Robson barrel organ ex Bicton. Ref: Church Bells (6 Mar. 1875) 162; (13 Mar. 1875) 175; Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Parkham (St James) : Barrel organ sold 1870. Ref: North Devon Gazette (22 Mar. 1870) 1 Peters Marland (St Peter) : Barrel organ. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (11 Sept. 1868) 4 Peter Tavy (St Peter) : Battel organ installed 1820. Ref: Tim Sandles, Legendary Dartmoor Pilton (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ installed 1843. Ref: Colin Pykett, ‘The Hope-Jones Organ in Pilton Parish Church’, Organists Review (Nov. 1993) Shobrooke (St Swithun) : Barrel organ installed 1828. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (24 Nov. 1923) 5 South Tawton (St Andrew) : Henry Philip Dicker barrel & finger organ installed 1855. Barrel mechanism removed 1887. Ref: Browne (1998) Spreyton (St Michael) : Barrel organ. Ref: MacDermott (1948) 67 Stoke Gabriel (St Gabriel) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Stoodleigh (St Margaret) : Barrel organ. Ref: J. George Tetley, Old Times and New (1904) 117 Sutcombe (St Andrew) : Barrel organ. Ref: NPOR, J00175 Tavistock (St Eustachius) : Barrel organ installed 1790. Ref: Bryan Hughes, ‘The Music & Organs of St Eustachius Church’, Musical Opinion (Mar. 1991) 91 Tawstock (St Peter) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Upton Pyne (Church of Our Lady) : J.W. Walker barrel organ installed 1851. Ref: Plumley (2023) Woodbury (St Swithun) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Woodleigh (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ. Ref: John Stabb, Some Old Devon Churches (London, 1908-16): www.wissensdrang.com/stabb253.htm [accessed 7 Mar. 2022] Yarcombe (St John the Baptist) : Henry Philip Dicker barrel & finger organ installed 1848. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (18 March 1848) 5; Browne (1998) * Listed in Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston, Church and Chamber Barrel Organs, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970) 73-4
© Maggie Kilbey 2026
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Devon
Abbotsham (St Helen) : Barrel organ. Transferred to private collection. Ref: North Devon Journal (13 Oct. 1910) 8 Alphington (St Michael) : Barrel organ. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (9 Feb. 1877) 7 Ashford (St Peter) : Barrel organ. Ref: Church Bells (6 Mar. 1875) 162 & 13 Mar. 1875) 175 Beer (St Michael) : Barrel organ. Ref: T. Cann Hughes, Sir Stephen Glynne’s notes on the churches of Devon, Notes & Queries, CLXIII (5 Nov. 1932) 328–31 to CLXVI (24 Mar. 1934) 200–3 Bicton (St Mary) : Flight & Robson barrel organ. Transferred to Otterton. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (21 April 1871) 7; NPOR, K00256 Bideford (St Mary) : Barrel organ. Ref: A. Hutchings, Church Music in the Nineteenth Century (London, 1967) 119; Turner (2000) 20 Brampford Speke (St Peter) : Improved barrel organ. Ref: George Cornelius Gorham, The Church Discipline Act made an Instrument of Vexation to the Clergy in the Diocese of Exeter (London, 1856) Bratton Fleming (St Peter) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1846. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1846) 275 Buckland Monachorum (St Andrew) : Henry Philip Dicker barrel & finger organ. Ref: Browne (1998) Chittlehampton (St Hieritha) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) *Chivelstone (St Sylvester) : Barrel organ. Ref: MacDermott (1948) 67 *Clawton (St Leonard) : Barrel organ. Ref: MacDermott (1948) 67 Combe Raleigh (St Nicholas) : Gray & Son barrel organ installed 1839. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 3 (1839) 108 Cornwood (St Michael & All Angels) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1841. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 3 (1841) 159 Culmstock (All Saints) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1837. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1837) 133 Dorchester (Holy Trinity) : Barrel organ. Ref: DHC, PE/DO(HT)/CW 1/4 Vestry Book 3 (1791-1850) *Drewsteignton (Holy Trinity) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1833. Converted to finger organ 1875. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1833) 113 East Budleigh (All Saints) : Barrel organ installed 1810. Ref: T.N. Brushfield, ‘The Church of All Saints, East Budleigh’, Transactions of the Devonshire Association for the advancement of Science, xxiii (1891) p.30; Glynne, Devon (1932-4) East Down (St John the Baptist) : Gray & Davison improved barrel organ installed 1844. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1844) 257 Exbourne (St Mary) : Barrel organ. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (11 Oct. 1877) 4 *Exminster (St Martin) : Flight & Robson barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Exmouth (Holy Trinity) : Barrel organ. Ref: https://exmouth.nub.news/news/local-news/local- historian-the-complete-guide-to-exmouths-churches- 167901 [accessed 6 Jan. 2025] Fremington (St Peter) : William Hill barrel & finger organ ex private collection 1856. Ref: NPOR, D05753 Gittisham (St Michael) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1826. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1826) 48 Harpford (St Gregory) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) *Hartland (Abbey Church of St Nectan) : G.M. Holdich barrel & finger organ installed 1846. Barrel mechanism removed. Ref: Matthews (2013) 34 *Inwardleigh (St Petroc) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1846. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1846) 275 Kingskerswell (St Mary) : Barrel organ. Ref: William White, Devon History, Gazetteer and Directory of Devon County (1878) 562; Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Lee (St Matthew & St Wardrede) : Henry Philip Dicker barrel organ installed 1854. Ref: Browne (1998) Lifton (St Mary) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) *Milton Abbot (St Constantine) : Flight & Robson barrel organ installed c.1818. Ref: A Selection of PSALMS & HYMNS, AS SET ON THE Organ, The Gift of His Grace the Duke of Bedford to the Parish Church of Milton Abbot (London, c.1818); Rachel Evans, Home scenes: or, Tavistock and its vicinity (London, 1846) 202; Boston (1959) 110 Newton St Cyres (St Cyr & St Juletta) : Barrel organ. Ref: Western Times (20 Mar. 1894) 4 North Molton (All Saints) : Barrel organ sold 1865. Ref: North Devon Journal (30 Mar. 1865) 1 North Tawton (St Peter) : Barrel organ installed 1850. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (29 Apr. 1910) 14; Glynne, Devon (1932-4); Browne (1998) Oakford (St Peter) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1841. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 3 (1841) 157 Otterton (St Michael) : Flight & Robson barrel organ ex Bicton. Ref: Church Bells (6 Mar. 1875) 162; (13 Mar. 1875) 175; Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Parkham (St James) : Barrel organ sold 1870. Ref: North Devon Gazette (22 Mar. 1870) 1 Peters Marland (St Peter) : Barrel organ. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (11 Sept. 1868) 4 Peter Tavy (St Peter) : Barrel organ installed 1820. Ref: Tim Sandles, Legendary Dartmoor Pilton (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ installed 1843. Ref: Colin Pykett, ‘The Hope-Jones Organ in Pilton Parish Church’, Organists Review (Nov. 1993) Shobrooke (St Swithun) : Barrel organ installed 1828. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (24 Nov. 1923) 5 South Tawton (St Andrew) : Henry Philip Dicker barrel & finger organ installed 1855. Barrel mechanism removed 1887. Ref: Browne (1998) Spreyton (St Michael) : Barrel organ. Ref: MacDermott (1948) 67 Stoke Gabriel (St Gabriel) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Stoodleigh (St Margaret) : Barrel organ. Ref: J. George Tetley, Old Times and New (1904) 117 Sutcombe (St Andrew) : Barrel organ. Ref: NPOR, J00175 Tavistock (St Eustachius) : Barrel organ installed 1790. Ref: Bryan Hughes, ‘The Music & Organs of St Eustachius Church’, Musical Opinion (Mar. 1991) 91 Upton Pyne (Church of Our Lady) : J.W. Walker barrel organ installed 1851. Ref: Plumley (2023) Tawstock (St Peter) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Woodbury (St Swithun) : Barrel organ. Ref: Glynne, Devon (1932-4) Woodleigh (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ. Ref: John Stabb, Some Old Devon Churches (London, 1908- 16): www.wissensdrang.com/stabb253.htm [accessed 7 Mar. 2022] Yarcombe (St John the Baptist) : Henry Philip Dicker barrel & finger organ installed 1848. Ref: Exeter and Plymouth Gazette (18 March 1848) p.5; Browne (1998) * Listed in Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston, Church and Chamber Barrel Organs, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970) 73-4
Milton Abbot (Devon)
Milton Abbot
Photo: M. Kilbey