Gallery

These pictures of our work include new pipe organs in Manchester and Chorley; the cleaning and restoration of the 1973 Rieger in Clifton Cathedral, Bristol; the transfer of an instrument from Cambridge University to Truro School and work completed in Leeds.

In the beginning...

The workshop of organ builder Peter Conacher in 1952, the firm where the founder of Wood Organ Builders started his career.
This 1952 picture was taken in the workshop of Peter Conacher, the organ builder where Philip Wood began his career and which he later managed. 
The instrument was destined for St Saviour's, Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa, where it still stands in its teak case.
Standing by the console - left, in the raincoat - is Malcolm Cruise, organist of All Hallows', Almondbury, former organ adviser to the Wakefield Diocese and a one-time Conacher apprentice. 
Demonstrating the organ is his former teacher, the late Alfred Frost, FRCO, then organist of the Huddersfield Mission, and a musician of renown. The young man in white shoes to Malcolm's right is Alfred's son, Brian. 

Fresh pipes for the organ at All Hallows'

The organ at All Hallows', Almondbury, Huddersfield, designed and built by Wood Pipe Organ Builders and tuned and maintained by our Yorkshire firm






Continuing the story above, Wood of Huddersfield rebuilt the Abbott and Smith organ at Almondbury in the early 1970s, with a new detached console and extensive new pipework. 

Further modifications were made a few years later when the console was turned through 90 degrees and the great and choir organs re-located. The opportunity was taken to add a 16ft ophicleide to the pedal division.

The widely-admired oak screen, below the projecting choir soundboard, was carved by Richard Burrows, a former employee of the firm. Standing on the far right of the picture is the Kirklees Borough Organist, Dr Gordon Stewart.

40 years at New Mill

Organ Christ Church New Mill Huddersfield rebuilt and tuned by Wood Pipe Organ Builders Yorkshire
                         Dr Geoffrey Lockwood at the organ of Christ Church, New Mill, Huddersfield, where he celebrated 40 years as director of music. The instrument was rebuilt with tonal improvements by Wood Pipe Organ Builders.

A fine day out

Members of Huddersfield Organists' Association on an outing to Beverley in the 1980s.
An outing to Beverley to see the rebuilt Minster organ was enjoyed by members of the Huddersfield Organists' Association. Philip Wood is on the extreme left and David is eighth from left, back row. 
Please click the arrow on the left to hear a performance of the Toccata in G by Théodore Dubois played on the Wood organ in St Paul's Hall, Huddersfield. The recitalist is Keith Jarvis, a former university organist.


Nameplates fixed to an organ console by the original builder are always of interest. This distinctive example decorates the instrument in Westgate Chapel, Wakefield, which was restored by Wood Pipe Organ Builders.