© Maggie Kilbey 2026
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Herefordshire
*Ashperton (St Bartholomew) : Barrel organ. Converted to finger organ.
Ref: Geograph www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2967296 [accessed 6 Jan. 2025]
Bishopstone (Heref.) (St Lawrence) : Gray & Davison barrel & finger organ installed
1846. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1846) 284
*Bosbury (Holy Trinity) : T.C. Bates barrel organ ex unknown location placed in
church. Present whereabouts unknown.
Ref: Country Life (31 Mar. 1955) 878; Boston (1959) 112; The Music Box, vol.32 no.3
(Autumn/Winter 2025) 88-93
*Byton (St Mary) : J.W. Walker chamber organ ex private house, barrel mechanism
added 1855.
*Croft (St Michael & All Angels) : Bevington & Sons barrel & finger organ installed
1856. Barrel mechanism removed.
Photo: M. Kilbey
Dilwyn (St Mary) : Barrel organ installed 1842. Ref: Hereford Journal (5 Jan. 1842) 3; W. Heather, ‘On Dilwyn Church’, Journal of the
British Archaeological Association (London, 1871) 152
*Dinedor (St Andrew) : Barrel organ.
*Eardisland (St Mary the Virgin) : Joseph Walker barrel organ installed 1834. Converted to finger organ 1864. Ref: Wellington Journal
(18 Jul. 1914) 14
Fownhope (St Mary) : Barrel organ installed 1845.
Ref: Fownhope Parish Council and Village Website fownhopeparishcouncil.gov.uk/st-marys-church [accessed 16 Oct. 2023]
Hampton Bishop (St Andrew) : Barrel organ installed 1840. Ref: Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of England, 3rd edn., 2
(London, 1865)
Humber (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ. Ref: Kelly's Post Office Directory (1879) 63
Linton (St Mary the Virgin) : Gray & Davison barrel organ. Sold 1875.
Ref: Ross Gazette (25 Feb. 1875) 1; Church Bells (6 Mar. 1875) 162 & (13 Mar. 1875) 175
Madley (Nativity of the BVM) : Gray & Davison improved barrel organ installed 1844. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1844) 203
*Shobdon (St John the Evangelist) : Bevington & Son barrel organ installed 1841. Ref: Bevington (1847)
*Weston under Penyard (St Lawrence) : Barrel organ.
Yarkhill (St John the Baptist) : Barrel organ. Ref: Hereford Journal (29 Sept. 1866) 4
* Listed in Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston, Church and Chamber Barrel Organs, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970) 79
Croft
© Maggie Kilbey 2026
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Herefordshire
*Ashperton (St Bartholomew) : Barrel organ. Converted to
finger organ. Ref: Geograph
www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2967296 [accessed 6 Jan.
2025]
Bishopstone (Heref.) (St Lawrence) : Gray & Davison barrel
& finger organ installed 1846.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1846) 284
*Bosbury (Holy Trinity) : T.C. Bates barrel organ ex
unknown location placed in church. Present whereabouts
unknown.
Ref: Country Life (31 Mar. 1955) 878; Boston (1959) 112; The
Music Box, vol.32 no.3 (Autumn/Winter 2025) 88-93
*Byton (St Mary) : J.W. Walker chamber organ ex private
house, barrel mechanism added 1855.
*Croft (St Michael & All Angels) : Bevington & Sons barrel &
finger organ installed 1856. Barrel mechanism removed.
Dilwyn (St Mary) : Barrel organ installed 1842.
Ref: Hereford Journal (5 Jan. 1842) 3; W. Heather, ‘On Dilwyn
Church’, Journal of the British Archaeological Association
(London, 1871) 152
*Dinedor (St Andrew) : Barrel organ.
*Eardisland (St Mary the Virgin) : Joseph Walker barrel
organ installed 1834. Converted to finger organ 1864.
Ref: Wellington Journal (18 Jul. 1914) 14
Fownhope (St Mary) : Barrel organ installed 1845.
Ref: Fownhope Parish Council and Village Website
https://fownhopeparishcouncil.gov.uk/st-marys-church
[accessed 16 Oct. 2023]
Hampton Bishop (St Andrew) : Barrel organ installed
1840. Ref: Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of
England, 3rd edn., 2 (London, 1865)
Humber (St Mary the Virgin) : Barrel organ.
Ref: Kelly's Post Office Directory (1879) 63
Linton (St Mary the Virgin) : Gray & Davison barrel organ.
Sold 1875. Ref: Ross Gazette (25 Feb. 1875) 1; Church Bells (6
Mar. 1875) 162 & (13 Mar. 1875) 175
Madley (Nativity of the BVM) : Gray & Davison improved
barrel organ installed 1844.
Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1844) 203
*Shobdon (St John the Evangelist) : Bevington & Son barrel
organ installed 1841. Ref: Bevington (1847)
*Weston under Penyard (St Lawrence) : Barrel organ.
Yarkhill (St John the Baptist) : Barrel organ.
Ref: Hereford Journal (29 Sept. 1866) 4
* Listed in Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston, Church and
Chamber Barrel Organs, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970) 79
Croft
Photo: M. Kilbey
