© Maggie Kilbey 2026
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Northamptonshire
Abthorpe (St John the Baptist) : J.W. Walker barrel & finger organ ex Sandy (Beds.) c.1872. Ref: NPOR, R01310 Aynho (St Michael) : Bevington & Son barrel organ installed 1834. Ref: Bevington & Sons (c.1841); Jackson's Oxford Journal (31 Oct. 1863); Hilary Davidson, Choirs, Bands and Organs (Oxford, 2003) 67 Brackley (St Peter & St James) : J.W. Walker barrel & finger organ. Given to local school 1869. Ref: Davidson (2003) 72 Broughton (Northants.) (St Andrew) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1829. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1829) 76; Davidson (2003) 75 *Bulwick (St Nicholas) : Barrel organ. Ref: Arthur Tindal Hart, The Nineteenth-Century Country Parson (Shrewsbury, 1954); Boston (1959) 114; Davidson (2003) 76
*Byfield (Holy Cross) : Flight & Robson barrel organ installed 1833. Ref: Davidson (2003) 76 Castor (St Kyneburgha) : Barrel organ. Ref: Peterborough Advertiser (30 Nov. 1889) 5 Clipston (All Saints) : Barrel organ installed 1800. Ref: Northampton Chronicle and Echo (11 Sep. 1926) p.2; Davidson (2003) 79 *Cold Ashby (St Denys) : H. Bryceson barrel organ transferred to Leicester City Museum. Ref: Bevington & Sons (1847); Davidson (2003) 80 Cosgrove (St Peter & St Paul) : John Watlen barrel organ installed c.1810. Ref: Evening Mail (25 Sep. 1811) 1 Croughton (All Saints) : Barrel organ. Sold 1872. Ref: Banbury Advertiser (1 Jun. 1933) 5 *Dingley now Leicestershire (All Saints) : T.C. Bates barrel organ installed 1858. Removed to Brigstock 1881, barrel mechanism removed. Ref: Herbert Snow, 'More Barrel Organs', The Choir and Musical Journal (Apr. 1933) 78-79; Davidson (2003) 88 *Draughton (St Catherine) : Flight & Robson barrel organ ex Stony Stratford. Ref: Davidson (2003) 89 Easton-on-the-Hill (All Saints) : See Surviving instruments Ecton (St Mary Magdalene) : Bevington & Son barrel organ installed 1843. Ref: Bevington & Sons (1847); Northampton Mercury (13 May 1843) 3 Edgcote (St James) : See Surviving instruments Eydon (St Nicholas) : J.W. Walker barrel organ installed 1868. Ref: Davidson (2003) 92 Eye (St Matthew) : Gray & Son barrel organ installed 1839. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 3 (1839) 123; Davidson (2003) 93 Farthinghoe (St Michael & All Angels) : Bevington & Sons barrel organ installed c.1840. No barrels. Ref: Bevington & Sons (c.1841); Davidson (2003) 93 *Fawsley (St Mary the Virgin) : Joseph Walker barrel & finger organ installed 1839. Ref: Boston (1959) 114; Davidson (2003) 93; www.goetzegwynn.co.uk/organ/fawsley-northants-restoration-1839-joseph-walker-finger-barrel-organ/ *Greens Norton (St Bartholomew) : Barrel organ installed 1850. Ref: Davidson (2003) 102 Harrington (St Peter & St Paul) : Bevington & Sons barrel organ installed 1840. Given to local school 1887. Ref: Stephen J. Weston, ‘Choir-Band Instrumentation: Two County Surveys’, The Galpin Society Journal, LII (1999) pp.305-13; Davidson (2003) 104 Helmdon (St Mary Magdalene) : Barrel organ. Ref: W.D. Macray, A register of the members of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford, VI (London 1909) 49 Holcot (St Mary & All Saints) : G.M. Holdich barrel organ installed 1845. No barrels. Ref: Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 108 Hollowell (St James) : Barrel organ installed 1840. Ref: Davidson (2003) 108 *Horton (St Mary Magdalene) : T.C. Bates & Son barrel & finger organ. Ref: Davidson (2003) 109 Kingsthorpe (St John the Baptist) : Barrel organ. Ref: Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 114 *Lilbourne (All Saints) : H. Bryceson barrel & finger organ installed 1845. Ref: Coventry Evening Standard (18 Aug. 1969) 9; Davidson (2003) 116 Little Houghton (St Mary the Virgin) : Richard Webber barrel & finger organ installed 1845. Ref: Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 117 Long Buckby (St Lawrence) : Barrel organ. Ref: Northampton Record (17 Sep. 1909) 5 Lutton (St Peter) : H. Bryceson barrel organ installed 1850. Ref: NPOR, D00554 Moulton (St Peter & St Paul) : Bevington barrel organ installed c.1840. Ref: Bevington & Sons (c.1841); Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser (5 Dec. 1908) 5 Norton (Northants) (All Saints) : Robson & Son barrel & finger organ installed c.1850. Ref: Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 134 *Piddington (St John the Baptist) : G.M. Holdich barrel & finger organ installed 1853. Barrel mechanism removed. Ref: Davidson (2003) 141 Potterspury (St Nicholas) : Barrel organ installed 1839. Converted to finger organ 1862. Ref: Davidson (2003) 143 Spratton (St Andrew) : G.M. Holdich barrel organ installed 1864. Ref: Davidson (2003) 150 Staverton (St Mary the Virgin) : Bevington & Son barrel organ. Ref: Davidson (2003) 153 Stoke Bruerne (St Mary the Virgin) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1843. Converted to finger organ c.1860. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1843) 213; Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 154 Sutton (Northants.) (St Michael & All Angels) : See Surviving instruments Titchmarsh (St Mary the Virgin) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1837. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1837) 140; Davidson (2003) 159 Wadenhoe (St Michael & All Angels) : Barrel organ. Ref: Bedfordshire Mercury (27 Oct. 1911) 4 West Haddon (All Saints) : Bunting barrel & finger organ installed 1829. Ref: Northampton Mercury (22 Aug 1829) 3 Whittlebury (St Mary) : Barrel organ installed 1848. Ref: Davidson (2003) 171 Winwick (St Michael & All Angels) : See Surviving instruments Wootton (St George) : John Watlen barrel organ installed c.1810. Ref: Evening Mail (25 Sep. 1811) 1 Yardley Hastings (St Andrew) : Barrel organ. Ref: Davidson (2003) 173 Yelvertoft (All Saints) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1850. Ref: Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 174 * Listed in Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston, Church and Chamber Barrel Organs, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970) 87-9
Aynho (Northamptonshire)
Aynho
Photo: M. Kilbey
© Maggie Kilbey 2026
Barrel Organs in English Parish Churches
Northamptonshire
Abthorpe (St John the Baptist) : J.W. Walker barrel & finger organ ex Sandy (Beds.) c.1872. Ref: NPOR, R01310 Aynho (St Michael) : Bevington & Son barrel organ installed 1834. Ref: Bevington & Sons (c.1841); Jackson's Oxford Journal (31 Oct. 1863); Hilary Davidson, Choirs, Bands and Organs (Oxford, 2003) 67 Brackley (St Peter & St James) : J.W. Walker barrel & finger organ. Given to local school 1869. Ref: Davidson (2003) 72 Broughton (Northants.) (St Andrew) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1829. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1829) 76; Davidson (2003) 75 *Bulwick (St Nicholas) : Barrel organ. Ref: Arthur Tindal Hart, The Nineteenth-Century Country Parson (Shrewsbury, 1954); Boston (1959) 114; Davidson (2003) 76 *Byfield (Holy Cross) : Flight & Robson barrel organ installed 1833. Ref: Davidson (2003) 76 Castor (St Kyneburgha) : Barrel organ. Ref: Peterborough Advertiser (30 Nov. 1889) 5 Clipston (All Saints) : Barrel organ installed 1800. Ref: Northampton Chronicle and Echo (11 Sep. 1926) 2; Davidson (2003) 79 *Cold Ashby (St Denys) : H. Bryceson barrel organ transferred to Leicester City Museum. Ref: Bevington & Sons (1847); Davidson (2003) 80 Cosgrove (St Peter & St Paul) : John Watlen barrel organ installed c.1810. Ref: Evening Mail (25 Sep. 1811) 1 Croughton (All Saints) : Barrel organ. Sold 1872. Ref: Banbury Advertiser (1 Jun. 1933) 5 *Dingley now Leicestershire (All Saints) : T.C. Bates barrel organ installed 1858. Removed to Brigstock 1881, barrel mechanism removed. Ref: Herbert Snow, 'More Barrel Organs', The Choir and Musical Journal (Apr. 1933) 78-79; Davidson (2003) 88 *Draughton (St Catherine) : Flight & Robson barrel organ ex Stony Stratford. Ref: Davidson (2003) 89 Easton-on-the-Hill (All Saints) : See Surviving instruments Ecton (St Mary Magdalene) : Bevington & Son barrel organ installed 1843. Ref: Bevington & Sons (1847); Northampton Mercury (13 May 1843) 3 Edgcote (St James) : See Surviving instruments Eydon (St Nicholas) : J.W. Walker barrel organ installed 1868. Ref: Davidson (2003) 92 Eye (St Matthew) : Gray & Son barrel organ installed 1839. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 3 (1839) 123; Davidson (2003) 93 Farthinghoe (St Michael & All Angels) : Bevington & Sons barrel organ installed c.1840. No barrels. Ref: Bevington & Sons (c.1841); Davidson (2003) 93 *Fawsley (St Mary the Virgin) : Joseph Walker barrel & finger organ installed 1839. Ref: Boston (1959) 114; Davidson (2003) 93; www.goetzegwynn.co.uk/organ/fawsley-northants- restoration-1839-joseph-walker-finger-barrel-organ/ *Greens Norton (St Bartholomew) : Barrel organ installed 1850. Ref: Davidson (2003) 102 Harrington (St Peter & St Paul) : Bevington & Sons barrel organ installed 1840. Given to local school 1887. Ref: Stephen J. Weston, ‘Choir-Band Instrumentation: Two County Surveys’, The Galpin Society Journal, LII (1999) pp.305-13; Davidson (2003) 104 Helmdon (St Mary Magdalene) : Barrel organ. Ref: W.D. Macray, A register of the members of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford, VI (London 1909) 49 Holcot (St Mary & All Saints) : G.M. Holdich barrel organ installed 1845. No barrels. Ref: Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 108 Hollowell (St James) : Barrel organ installed 1840. Ref: Davidson (2003) 108 *Horton (St Mary Magdalene) : T.C. Bates & Son barrel & finger organ. Ref: Davidson (2003) 109 Kingsthorpe (St John the Baptist) : Barrel organ. Ref: Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 114 *Lilbourne (All Saints) : H. Bryceson barrel & finger organ installed 1845. Ref: Coventry Evening Standard (18 Aug. 1969) p.9; Davidson (2003) 116 Little Houghton (St Mary the Virgin) : Richard Webber barrel & finger organ installed 1845. Ref: Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 117 Long Buckby (St Lawrence) : Barrel organ. Ref: Northampton Record (17 Sep. 1909) 5 Lutton (St Peter) : H. Bryceson barrel organ installed 1850. Ref: NPOR, D00554 Moulton (St Peter & St Paul) : Bevington barrel organ installed c.1840. Ref: Bevington & Sons (c.1841); Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser (5 Dec. 1908) 5 Norton (Northants) (All Saints) : Robson & Son barrel & finger organ installed c.1850. Ref: Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 134 *Piddington (St John the Baptist) : G.M. Holdich barrel & finger organ installed 1853. Barrel mechanism removed. Ref: Davidson (2003) 141 Potterspury (St Nicholas) : Barrel organ installed 1839. Converted to finger organ 1862. Ref: Davidson (2003) 143 Spratton (St Andrew) : G.M. Holdich barrel organ installed 1864. Ref: Davidson (2003) 150 Staverton (St Mary the Virgin) : Bevington & Son barrel organ. Ref: Davidson (2003) 153 Stoke Bruerne (St Mary the Virgin) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1843. Converted to finger organ c.1860. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 4 (1843) 213; Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 154 Sutton (Northants.) (St Michael & All Angels) : See Surviving instruments Titchmarsh (St Mary the Virgin) : John Gray barrel organ installed 1837. Ref: BOA, Gray & Davison Ledger 1 (1837) 140; Davidson (2003) 159 Wadenhoe (St Michael & All Angels) : Barrel organ. Ref: Bedfordshire Mercury (27 Oct. 1911) 4 West Haddon (All Saints) : Bunting barrel & finger organ installed 1829. Ref: Northampton Mercury (22 Aug 1829) 3 Whittlebury (St Mary) : Barrel organ installed 1848. Ref: Davidson (2003) 171 Winwick (St Michael & All Angels) : See Surviving instruments Wootton (St George) : John Watlen barrel organ installed c.1810. Ref: Evening Mail (25 Sep. 1811) 1 Yardley Hastings (St Andrew) : Barrel organ. Ref: Davidson (2003) 173 Yelvertoft (All Saints) : Gray & Davison barrel organ installed 1850. Ref: Weston (1999); Davidson (2003) 174 * Listed in Lyndesay G. Langwill & Noel Boston, Church and Chamber Barrel Organs, 2nd edn (Edinburgh, 1970) 87-9
Aynho (Northamptonshire)
Aynho
Photo: M. Kilbey