Historic organ inside city landmark to get £20k refurb
The Father Willis Organ in St George’s Hall
- Published
An historic organ that is located within a city landmark will undergo an eight-week refurbishment following a £20,000 funding boost.
Liverpool's Father Willis Organ at St George's Hall will be repaired after an appeal received funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, via the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Its Tuba Mirabilis pipes - often described as the "voice of the organ" - will be repaired, returning its stop sound to its former glory.
Emlyn Wright, trustee of St George’s Hall’s charitable trust, said the restoration not only "revives a vital piece of our past" but ensured it continued to inspire.
The work coincides with the Grade I listed building’s 170th anniversary celebrations
The stop chest, which produces the sound, will also be restored, with the replacement of the internal leatherwork and magnets.
David Wells Organ Builders Ltd, based in Kirkdale, will conduct the specialist repairs - which will involve the removal of pipework so it can be transported to the Kirkdale workshop for restoration.
Following completion of the work, the Tuba Mirabilis stop will be regulated and the whole organ tuned.
Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “The Willis Organ is a cornerstone of Liverpool's rich musical heritage and holds immense historical and cultural value.
"Knowing that it is getting closer to being fully restored to its optimal condition is incredibly exciting.”
The work coincides with the SGH170 programme of events, which celebrates the Grade I listed building’s 170th anniversary with an array of music, comedy, and performance events.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “The city of Liverpool is steeped in a rich musical history that has helped to shape its identity and culture for centuries.
"St George’s Hall has played a part in everything from classical music concerts to Eurovision for almost 170 years."
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