On the long road to refurbishment

Thousands of pipes from Wells Cathedral’s Grand Organ are being transported 300 miles as part of its £3 million refurbishment

- IAN LEWIS [e-mail]

NEARLY 4,000 pipes, along with wind reservoirs, electrical systems and console, have been carefully removed from Wells Cathedral, as its Grand Organ undergoes a major £3 million refurbishment.

Packed into 60 crates, the painstakingly dismantled organ has been transported 300 miles north to the Durham workshop of organ builders Harrison and Harrison.

‘The parts are expected to remain with the organ builders until summer 2027, before returning to Wells to be reinstalled.

Wells Cathedral took the decision to undertake the huge project after a growing number of mechanical faults were found to be risking imminent failure of the organ.

The refurbishment comes as a relief to organists at the cathedral, who said they had to use their skills to creatively cover up many of the instrument’s shortcomings during services and recitals.