We also repair and restore organs of all makes and sizes, clean and overhaul organs and  provide a tuning and maintenance service.  To find out more go to ‘‘About Us’

Although this is a question we are often asked, there is no straightforward answer. We build organs of all sizes unique to each situation, from chamber organs and practice organs for private houses up to church and cathedral organs. If you are interested in obtaining a quotation, please  contact our office via email or telephone 0191 378 22 22

Emmanuel Church, Chestertown,Maryland, USA

Yes, we have built organs for countries as diverse as Australia, Korea, USA, Sweden, Japan, South Africa and Nigeria. We are always happy to discuss projects. Please get in touch. If phoning from abroad, use +44 191 378 22 22

Yes we can. Please email our office or telephone 0191 378 22 22

We have a useful leaflet containing relevant information from the IBO, click here to download
To download  a list of H&H resources for fundraisers, please click here

Please email tuning@harrisonorgans.com
with more details, 

or telephone the office on 0191 378 22 22

On a regular visit, we would expect to check over the organ, make adjustments to the mechanism,repair minor faults and tune through the pipework. Depending on the time spent on adjustments and faults, tuning might be limited to selected stops and pipes that are particularly out of tune. If advised in advance of problems that are of major concern we could plan to extend a visit to enable all to be dealt with. If the work cannot be completed within a reasonable time, or more extensive repairs are required then we would provide a report and estimate of the cost.

Tuning requires skill and concentration, and quiet conditions are necessary for good results.  Our tuners understand that complete silence can seldom be achieved, but it is important to keep the area adjacent to the organ free from disturbance, and the the use of machinery such as vacuum cleaners should be avoided while tuning is in progress.

We are always happy to consider new tunings. If possible we like to visit and discuss your requirements beforehand. In certain circumstances we can arrange a single tuning visit, which will be chargeable. It is helpful to have as much information about your organ and your requirements as possible – size of the organ, last time it was tuned, how often it is used, current problems, etc.  We are happy to discuss options to fit your needs and budget. Email our office or telephone 0191 378 22 22

VAT on organ maintenance and tuning might be reclaimable under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. It is understood that relevant invoices must be submitted within one year, to a combined minimum value of £500 excluding VAT. Further details can be obtained from Topmark (LPOW): www.lpwscheme.org.uk
0845 013 6601
dcms@topmarkadjusters.co.uk

Click here for an IBO leaflet on ‘Church heating and the organ’.

Click HERE to go to our video page

Download our Tri-fold brochure HERE

• H&H Resources to help with fund raising for organs
• H&H’s touring exhibition consists of a series of linked panels which includes stunning photographs of some of the finest Harrison organs. If you would be interested in inviting the exhibition to be hosted in your area, please get in touch with the Administrator on 0191 378 22 22.
• IBO ‘Fundraising for pipe organs’ leaflet

• British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS)
• Institute of British Organ Building (IBO)
• Incorporated Association of Organists
• International Society of Organ Builders (ISO)
• National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR)

• Choir & Organ
• organrecitals.com
• London Organ Concert Guide 
• Orgues Nouvelles

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• Duresme – access to pages managed by Richard Hird, local organ historian in Durham
• Priory Records
• Youtube – We now have a page on Youtube, please feel free to browse.

This glossary has been produced to help those interested in organs but not familiar with the organ terminology.  If you have any queries or words you’ve heard before but find that they aren’t listed below, then please send us an email and let us know and we’ll add it to our list.

ACTION:  An action may be mechanical, pneumatic, or electrical (or some combination of these, such as electro-pneumatic action). An organ contains two actions, or systems of moving parts. When a key is depressed, the key action admits wind into a pipe. The stop action allows the organist to control which ranks are engaged.    An electrical connection which, when charged, it magnetizes a piece of metal. This circuit is involved in the mechanism which opens the valves to allow pipes to speak

BASSES: The largest pipes in the organ.  The bottom notes of a given stop.

BELLOWS: Before electricity, bellows were used to supply air. It was made of two wedge shaped pieces of wood joined by an expandable, fan-like piece of leather. Closing the bellows forced air into the Reservoir.

BLOWER: In organs of the twentieth century, a rotary fan for producing organ wind, usually driven by an electric motor. The wind supplied is stored in one or more regulators to maintain a constant pressure in the windchests until the action allows it to flow into the pipes

BODY: The upper part of a flue pipe, measured upward from the mouth to the end of the pipe.  A pipe body may be either open, closed or partially closed.

BOOT: The lower part of a reed pipe, containing the sound-producing mechanism: shallot and tongue.

BOXES:  Usually refers to a swell box.  See Swell shutters.

BUILDING FRAME: The structure upon which the organ components are set.  Usually constructed of wood, jointed and bolted together.

CASE:  An enclosure for chests and pipes, usually free-standing.  Often decorated and an important part of the acoustical and visual aspect of many organs.

CELESTE: A rank of pipes similar in scale and voicing to another rank on the same chest, intentionally tuned either sharp or flat in comparison to the unison rank.  The effect when the two ranks are played together is a gentle undulation in the pitch.

CIRCUIT: An electrical connection, when charged, magnetizes a piece of metal. The circuit is part of the mechanism which opens the valves to allow pipes to speak.

CHEST: See Windchest

CHOIR: 1. Usually the lowest manual of the organ console.  A corruption of “chair”, referring to a division placed behind the organ bench.  Equivalent to the German “Rückpositiv”  2. An enclosed division containing stops useful for accompanying a choir of voices.

COMPASS:  The range of a keyboard, referring to the normal pitch of the keys themselves, not of the actual sounding pitch of a specific stop.  Thus, in normal usage, “compass” refers to the keys, “range” to the pitches played by those keys.

CONSOLE: The console consists of a cabinet containing the manual and pedal keyboards and the stop control. The console is either built into the organ case or detached from it and there is a bench for the organist to sit.  Parts of the organ action are found in the cabinet.

COUPLER:  A coupler allows the stops of one division to be played from the keyboard of another division.

Durham is served by National Express Coaches. Local bus companies run frequent services to Meadowfield. Services 46 and 49 stop near the Meadowfield Sports Centre, which is a short walk from the workshop.  The workshop is the second building on the left hand side of St John’s Road. (click here for map).

Meadowfield is on the A690 between Durham and Crook, about two miles from the city centre. If approaching from the city/north, turn left at St John’s Church, Meadowfield (opposite the Meadowfield Sports Centre). From the south, turn right at St John’s Church. The workshop is the second building on the left hand side of St John’s Road.(Click on the map for a closer view)

(click here to go to Google Maps for more detailed directions)

Durham is on the main line from London to Edinburgh. Journey time from London (King’s Cross) is less than three hours; from Edinburgh less than two hours. There are also good cross-country services.

Click here for train timetables on the Internet.
From the station, either take a taxi to the workshop, or take the bus (from the bus station nearby). Services 46 and 49 stop near the Meadowfield Sports Centre, which is a short walk from the workshop.

The main airport is Newcastle, 25 miles (40 km) north of Durham: connection by Metro to Newcastle Central station, then a short train journey to Durham. There is a smaller airport at Durham Tees Valley, 25 miles (40 km) to the south: bus connection to Darlington station, then a short train journey to Durham. From Durham you can take a taxi or use the bus services.
The workshop is the second building on the left hand side of St John’s Road.