Nicholson & Co (Worcester) Ltd
Encyclopedia
Nicholson & Co Ltd is a company that manufactures pipe organ
s.
The Nicholson's were a family of organ builders originating from Rochdale
, Lancashire
in the North of England. When John Nicholson moved to Worcester in 1841 he obtained permission from the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral
to establish a workshop in the Palace Yard. John Nicholson's work included organs in Malvern Priory and Worcester Shire Hall.
, Worcestershire
.
The Quest Hills Road buildings started life as a vet's practice in the late 19th century when horses were the principal source of motive power. Mechanisation led to its use as a coal depot in the 1930s, supplied by the Great Western Railway
sidings across the road. In 1956, as coal in turn gave way to alternative forms of fuel, the buildings were acquired by Nicholson. Many famous organs have passed through its diminutive doors since that time. The site has since been converted to residential mews.
Nicholson's new premises are located in rural Worcestershire
at the foot of the Malvern Hills
. A plantation of Christmas trees surrounds the factory and there are fishing lakes close by. The 1,250 square metres (13,500 sq ft) floor area is three times that of the previous factory. The building shop measures 10 m x 10m with generous headroom, enabling large organs to be fully assembled.
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
s.
The Nicholson's were a family of organ builders originating from Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in the North of England. When John Nicholson moved to Worcester in 1841 he obtained permission from the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
to establish a workshop in the Palace Yard. John Nicholson's work included organs in Malvern Priory and Worcester Shire Hall.
History
Nicholson and Company moved from the old Quest Hills Road factory in Autumn 2003 to new premises at Lower Interfields in MalvernMalvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
.
The Quest Hills Road buildings started life as a vet's practice in the late 19th century when horses were the principal source of motive power. Mechanisation led to its use as a coal depot in the 1930s, supplied by the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
sidings across the road. In 1956, as coal in turn gave way to alternative forms of fuel, the buildings were acquired by Nicholson. Many famous organs have passed through its diminutive doors since that time. The site has since been converted to residential mews.
Nicholson's new premises are located in rural Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
at the foot of the Malvern Hills
Malvern Hills
The Malvern Hills are a range of hills in the English counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and a small area of northern Gloucestershire, dominating the surrounding countryside and the towns and villages of the district of Malvern...
. A plantation of Christmas trees surrounds the factory and there are fishing lakes close by. The 1,250 square metres (13,500 sq ft) floor area is three times that of the previous factory. The building shop measures 10 m x 10m with generous headroom, enabling large organs to be fully assembled.
Some examples of Nicholson organs
- Bridlington Priory Church, Yorkshire
- Christchurch Priory, Dorset
- Church of Our Lady & The English Martyrs, Cambridge
- Gloucester Cathedral
- Great Malvern Priory
- Portsmouth Cathedral
- Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire
- The Parish Church of St Clement, Sandwich, Kent
- St Martin in the Bull RingSt Martin in the Bull RingThe church of St Martin in the Bull Ring in Birmingham 5, England is a parish church in the Church of England.-Background:It is the original parish church of Birmingham. It stands between the Bull Ring shopping centre and the markets. The church is a Grade II* listed building. The current Rector...
, BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... - St John the Baptist Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
- St Peter's Church, Woodmansterne, Surrey
- St Peter's College, Oxford