The Theatre Organ Heritage Centre

and

Hope-Jones Museum



The project is coming on well all the building work with the exception of disabled access is now complete. The Wurlitzer restoration is now almost complete and installation has started. The Hope-Jones Museum has received some of its exhibits including a complete Hope-Jones Electric action.

The Heritage Lottery, has given the Trust a grant that will assist in the creation of the Heritage part of this Project.

{aerialview




An Aerial view of the Heritage Centre in Peel Green, just close to the main A57 to Liverpool











The Centre will also house the worlds first Museum dedicated to Robert Hope-Jones. We are looking for donations or any artifacts associated with Hope-Jones for inclusion in the Museum. See note at bottom of page.

OPUS 1













An original Hope-Jones Console has been located for the Museum, it was the first commercial one (OPUS1) that Robert Hope-Jones built in 1894 when he formed his own organ building company;

The Hope-Jones Electric Organ Co. Ltd.

{chamber






The latest view of the museum area showing some of the display boards about British Cinema Groups, donated by Granada TV to this project.











{chamber






The Partly restored console. It remains to complete the wiring and install the console on the hydraulic lift.











Trocadero Wurlitzer







The Console of the Trocadero Wurlitzer, Opus 1664, which arrived in England on the 30th July 1927.

The Wurlitzer was the 13th to arrive in the Country, but is at present the 6th oldest surviving Wurlitzer remaining of that first group.






This photo was taken in 1988 by LTOT Member Thomas Klose of Germany.



OPUS 1664 More pictures of the Wurlitzer rescued by the LTOT.


dura








Among the latest aquisitions for the Hope-Jones Museum is the Worlds first TIBIA rank of pipes, styled the Tibia Dura made in the early 1890's. Dura being the Latin for Harsh to the ear.












Among the Hope-Jones artifacts already collected by and donated to the Trust over the years is a reduced model of the organ from St Lukes Tranmere, this was the first pipe organ that Hope-Jones played and also experimented with some of his early pipe organ ideas.

In the collection of items for the museum are pipes and other items from St John's Birkenhead - the first organ built by Hope-Jones.

Visitors to the museum will be able to see the pipework of the Wurlitzer visible through windows in the chamber walls. The sound will be ducted upwards into the first floor auditorium.

The original Hope-Jones Electric action dating from 1893 is in superb condition mounted in a Mahogony case. This is indeed a great find.

We have now had a serious look at this original Hope-Jones action and find it quite a remarkable piece of engineering.

A Request

If anyone has any early Wurlitzer items, early cinema items pre 1929 or any Hope-Jones artifacts and wishes to donate them to our new Heritage venture please email

{heritage centre}Don Hyde, Chairman of the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust

in the first instance with details. Items the Trust is looking for, will be small items to be housed in the museum either free standing, wall mountable or suitable to be put in showcases.

This is an important Heritage project and your help would be appreciated.


Go back to top of page

to Projects