Harrison & Harrison Ltd

Harrison & Harrison Ltd Welcome to the Official Page of Harrison & Harrison Ltd. We will NOT be held responsible for content on any other pages relating to H&H.

We are makers and restorers of pipe organs. We provide a comprehensive tuning and maintenance service. The firm was founded in 1861 and is based in Durham,
Harrison organs stand firmly in the English musical tradition. Their distinctive sound is based on 150 years of experience and development. Meticulous standards of design and construction have ensured that H&H organs have a reputation for longe

vity. In a series of high-profile restorations we have demonstrated our ability to enter into the spirit of organ builders of different periods and styles.

While stripping the roller valves from St Dominic's Priory Newcastle, we found that old coins were used as guides for th...
07/02/2025

While stripping the roller valves from St Dominic's Priory Newcastle, we found that old coins were used as guides for the roller valve wires. One is dated 1861 bearing Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, and the other is dated 1853 bearing Napoleon III of France.

The organ at St Dominic's Priory, Newcastle, was built by Fr Willis in 1883, following on from the new organ he built fo...
07/02/2025

The organ at St Dominic's Priory, Newcastle, was built by Fr Willis in 1883, following on from the new organ he built for St Dominic's Priory Haverstock Hill. The organ has had very little attention since it was built and the manual and pedal reservoirs retain their leather from 1883 which is now in a very poor condition. The reservoirs have been removed and are in the beginning stages of being re-leathered.

07/02/2025

Good afternoon everyone! The workshop was very busy in the run-up to Christmas, and the pace continues on a number of projects. Projects currently taking place in either the workshop or on site are;

St Dominic's Priory, Newcastle, partly re-leathering the wind system;
Bristol Beacon, Site regulation and voicing;
Bristol Cathedral, Re-installation;
St John's College, Cambridge, Fitting up in the workshop.

We will soon share further individual updates and photos.

17/01/2025

Will you be joining us this Sunday (15:00 GMT) at Methodist Central Hall Westminster to kick off Play the Organ Year 2025?

If you've ever wanted to try the organ, now's your chance! Experience a special recital by Gerard Brooks, then get hands-on with “The King of Instruments” – no experience required!

This free event is open to all ages, so bring your friends and family along. Refreshments will be provided.

Reserve your spot here: ptoylaunch.eventbrite.co.uk

29/10/2024

Organisations from across the organ and church music world have announced Play the Organ Year 2025, a year-long project to increase the number of people learning and listening to organ music.

We are inviting organists to organise First Encounter performances, hold Play the Organ sessions, or simply invite anyone who might be interested to experience this remarkable instrument first hand.

Want to get involved? For resources and information, visit: www.rco.org.uk/play

The initiative involves organisations including: The Incorporated Association of Organists, Royal School of Church Music, Society of Women Organists, British Institute of Organ Studies, The Organ Club, The Cathedral Organists Association, Institute of British Organ Building, and the Association of Assistant Cathedral Organists.

21/09/2024

The visual impact and ingenious tonal design of Harrison & Harrison’s new organ for The Guards’ Chapel brings another landmark instrument to central London. Nicholas Thistlethwaite reviews the work

01/09/2024

In this episode, Harrison & Harrison Head Voicer and Managing Director, Andy Scott, takes Mark O'Brien on a tour round the workshop in Durham to highlight the importance of apprenticeships in sustaining the skill and craft of organ building. A...

St Mary’s Church, HordenThe team are back on site reinstalling this lovely two-manual H&H instrument. The organ has been...
15/08/2024

St Mary’s Church, Horden

The team are back on site reinstalling this lovely two-manual H&H instrument.

The organ has been comprehensively restored (mechanical key, coupler and drawstop actions, exhaust pneumatic Pedal action) and is currently being reinstated.

New casework has been provided, and the case pipes have been stripped, upper lips releathered (Great Open Diapason pipes) and sprayed gold.

The team are back on site reassembling the Willis/Harrison organ at St Augustine, Kilburn.The organ has been restored, i...
15/08/2024

The team are back on site reassembling the Willis/Harrison organ at St Augustine, Kilburn.

The organ has been restored, including releathering of all of the exhaust pneumatic key actions, diaphragm machines, wind reservoirs, drawstop actions and jamb machines. All is now being carefully reassembled in the church.

New passageboards and ladders in an aesthetically appropriate style have also been provided to improve the general access.

The inaugural recital of the new organ at the Guards’ Chapel is on Thursday 5th September at 7.30pm. The recital will be...
07/08/2024

The inaugural recital of the new organ at the Guards’ Chapel is on Thursday 5th September at 7.30pm.

The recital will be preceded by a pre-concert talk at 6.30pm, featuring key figures involved in the project discussing the design and construction.

Tickets to this event are free, though you need to apply for one. See the attached flyer for more details.

12/07/2024
St Mary's, Horden
20/05/2024

St Mary's, Horden

03/05/2024

Our wonderful new Harrison & Harrison organ has been enriching our Sunday morning services since Easter. Over the next few months we are looking forward to a number of special events which we'd love you to add to your diaries:

THURSDAY 13th JUNE, 7pm - GALA ORGAN CONCERT
The Organists & Choir of the Guards' Chapel are joined by the Band of the Coldstream Guards in a concert celebrating the very best of the Chapel's musical tradition.
Featuring a selection of works showcasing the new organ, including the Finale from Saint-Saëns' 'Organ Symphony', Vaughan Williams' 'Lord, thou hast been our refuge' and Rutter's arrangement of 'Now thank we all our God'.
Book your free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gala-concert-tickets-887494970347

SUNDAY 16th JUNE, 11am - DEDICATION OF THE ORGAN, on the Sunday marking the 80th anniversary of the bombing of the Guards' Chapel.
Featuring the premiere of a new commission by Philip Moore for choir, organ and brass.

THURSDAY 27th JUNE, 6.30pm - STUDENT SHOWCASE CONCERT
Students from the Royal College of Music present a composite recital highlighting the versatility of our new instrument.

THURSDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 6.30 for 7.30pm - INAUGURAL ORGAN RECITAL and pre-concert talk
Join us at 6.30pm to hear about the genesis of the organ and the evolution of this ambitious project, including contributions from Andrew Scott (Harrison & Harrison)
At 7.30pm, the organ is put through its paces by Martin Ford (The Guards' Chapel and St Paul's Cathedral), Ben Giddens (The Guards' Chapel), William Fox (St Paul's Cathedral) and Peter Holder (Westminster Abbey). The colourful programme includes works for organ duet and a new commission from Matthew Martin.

Entry to all these events is free, but pre-booking is required for the Gala Concert.

The workshop extension full of St John's College, Cambridge soundboards
29/04/2024

The workshop extension full of St John's College, Cambridge soundboards

Address

St John's Road, Meadowfield
Durham
DH78YH

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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Videos

Taking the wrapping off the tin case pipes in Alexandria.

Laser engraving the drawstops for Christ Church, Greenwich CT.

York Minster As the site team come to the end of their first week of installation, the voicing team has just completed all of the pipework in Durham. Here are some of the last pipes to go on the voicing machine, the Solo 8ft Harmonic Flute (8” wind pressure). This stop retains the Walker (English) stopped wooden bass (1-24), and the Walcker (German) Chimney Flute treble has been replaced with new pipes. The new pipes have notes 25-32 as tubs (non harmonic), and notes 33-58 are harmonic. This stop and the new 2ft Harmonic Piccolo have been made and voiced to complete the family of Solo Flutes alongside the existing 4ft flute.

York Minster Pedal 32ft, 16ft, 8ft & 4ft Ophicleide unit (voiced on 25” wind pressure) undergoing voicing in the workshop. This stop in its original 1931 form was available at 16ft, 8ft and 4ft pitches. Mr. Arthur always lamented that space was not available to extend it down to 32ft. Later tonal work saw the 4ft extension removed, and the 16ft and 8ft portions were re-tongued and revoiced on a mere 6” pressure. At this time the harmonic length resonators were replaced with true length resonators. The current rebuild and reconfiguration has found space to complete the family, and alongside re-tonguing and revoicing back on the original 25” pressure, the 4ft extension and harmonic trebles have been reinstated. This stop is note for note equal power to the Tuba Mirabilis, also on 25” pressure. A nice bit of history sees the former tongues and shallots the Ely Cathedral 32ft Pedal reed (which were kept in a box in the voicing room) being used to complete the York 32ft extension. As with all stops like this, when fitted up in the workshop for voicing, the soundboards which the pipes stand on are winded via long flexible trunks and there is no concussion bellows. This results in the wind supply being much more lively than it will be once installed into the Minster. Allowance must also be made for the sound quality as recorded on an iPhone, which is no substitute for hearing it in person.

York Minster has many miles of electric cabling.....

Now that the workshop is empty........

Andy voicing the Tuba Mirabilis

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Our Story

We are makers and restorers of pipe organs and we provide a comprehensive tuning and maintenance service. The firm was founded in 1861 and is based in Durham. Harrison organs stand firmly in the English musical tradition. Their distinctive sound is based on more than 150 years of experience and development. Meticulous standards of design and construction have ensured that H&H organs have a reputation for longevity. In a series of high-profile restorations we have demonstrated our ability to enter into the spirit of organ builders of different periods and styles.