Winchester College
The new organ at Winchester College is housed in the remarkable W D Caröe case, built for a 1908 Norman & Beard organ on the West gallery of the magnificent 14th-century chapel. Seven of the Pedal Organ stops are also inherited from the previous organ but the instrument is otherwise entirely new.
The College has a strong choral tradition, and the organ was designed with accompaniment in mind, drawing inspiration from some of the best English organs of the nineteenth century. The comprehensive specification and mechanical action ensures that it is not only a fine recital instrument but also ideally suited as a teaching instrument, being well suited to a wide variety of repertoire.
The key and pedal action is mechanical, the trackers, levers and squares being wooden and the rollers aluminium. The drawstop action is electro-pneumatic, the console being equipped with a multi-channel capture system and full complement of aids to registration.
The manual departments are arranged vertically, with the Swell at the lowest level beneath the Great, the small enclosed Choir Organ being at the very top of the case from where it speaks clearly out into the chapel. The Pedal is divided on either side in the traditional manner.
View the Specification of the organ at Winchester College (completed 1984)
Project Leader Ian Bell
Technical Design Ian Bell (Team Leader), Stephen Bicknell
Consultant Michael Gillingham
Construction Harry Austin, Terry Hobart (Workshop Foremen)
Site Assembly Mike Smith (Team Leader)
Scaling Ian Bell
Voicing and Site Finishing David Frostick (Team Leader), Michael Blighton, John Mander, David Wintle