© Maggie Kilbey 2025
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Durham
Barnard Castle (St Mary the Virgin) : James Davis barrel organ installed 1822. Converted to finger organ 1846. Ref: Newcastle Guardian (28 Mar. 1846) p.5 Chester-le-Street (St Mary & St Cuthbert) : Nicholson barrel organ. Ref: Elvin (1986) p.157 Chopwell now Tyne & Wear (St John the Evangelist) : Bruce barrel organ transferred from Greenside 1905. Rebuilt 1936. Ref: NPOR, T00039 Durham (St Margaret) : Flight & Robson barrel organ installed 1828. Ref: Buckingham (1972-5); Durham County Advertiser (14 Dec. 1906) p.8; Durham Chronicle (28 Jul. 1916) p.7 Durham (St Nicholas) : Barrel organ. Ref: Durham Chronicle (22 Sep. 1837) p.3 Greenside now Tyne & Wear (St John) : Bruce barrel organ transferred from Ryton 1886. Transferred to Chopwell 1905. Ref: NPOR, K00515 *Pelton (Holy Trinity) : Bates & Son improved barrel organ installed 1853. Ref: Chester-le-Street Chronicle and District Advertiser (13 Jan. 1933) p.5; Boston (1950) p.111 Redmarshall (St Cuthbert) : Barrel & finger organ. Ref: ‘Parishes: Redmarshall’, in A History of the County of Durham: vol.3 (London, 1928) pp.315-321. BHO www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/durham/vol3/pp315-321 *Roseworth (St Chad) : J.W. Walker barrel & finger organ. Transferred from Balsham (Cambs.) 1956. Barrels lost. *Ryton, Durham (Holy Cross) : Bruce barrel organ installed 1828. Transferred to Greenside 1886. Replaced with Wood & Small barrel & finger organ. Ref: Newcastle Chronicle (6 May 1939) p.4 Seaham Harbour (St John) : Robert Postill barrel organ installed 1840. Ref: William Fordyce, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham, vol.II (London 1857) p.592 *Whitburn (St Mary) : Barrel organ. Ref: Haydn T. Giles, Letter, Notes and Queries, X (17 Jun. 1922) p.477 * Listed in Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston, Church and Chamber Barrel Organs, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970) p.75
© Maggie Kilbey 2025
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Durham
Barnard Castle (St Mary the Virgin) : James Davis barrel organ installed 1822. Converted to finger organ 1846. Ref: Newcastle Guardian (28 Mar. 1846) p.5 Chester-le-Street (St Mary & St Cuthbert) : Nicholson barrel organ. Ref: Elvin (1986) p.157 Chopwell now Tyne & Wear (St John the Evangelist) : Bruce barrel organ transferred from Greenside 1905. Rebuilt 1936. Ref: NPOR, T00039 Durham (St Margaret) : Flight & Robson barrel organ installed 1828. Ref: Buckingham (1972-5); Durham County Advertiser (14 Dec. 1906) p.8; Durham Chronicle (28 Jul. 1916) p.7 Durham (St Nicholas) : Barrel organ. Ref: Durham Chronicle (22 Sep. 1837) p.3 Greenside now Tyne & Wear (St John) : Bruce barrel organ transferred from Ryton 1886. Transferred to Chopwell 1905. Ref: NPOR, K00515 *Pelton (Holy Trinity) : Bates & Son improved barrel organ installed 1853. Ref: Chester-le-Street Chronicle and District Advertiser (13 Jan. 1933) p.5; Boston (1950) p.111 Redmarshall (St Cuthbert) : Barrel & finger organ. Ref: ‘Parishes: Redmarshall’, in A History of the County of Durham: vol.3 (London, 1928) pp.315-321, BHO www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/durham/vol3/pp315-321 *Roseworth (St Chad) : J.W. Walker barrel & finger organ. Transferred from Balsham (Cambs.) 1956. Barrels lost. *Ryton, Durham (Holy Cross) : Bruce barrel organ installed 1828. Transferred to Greenside 1886. Replaced with Wood & Small barrel & finger organ. Ref: Newcastle Chronicle (6 May 1939) p.4 Seaham Harbour (St John) : Robert Postill barrel organ installed 1840. Ref: William Fordyce, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham, vol.II (London 1857) p.592 *Whitburn (St Mary) : Barrel organ. Ref: Haydn T. Giles, Letter, Notes and Queries, X (17 Jun. 1922) p.477 * Listed in Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston, Church and Chamber Barrel Organs, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970) p.75