Newstead Abbey
St Mary

Organ

A brass plate on the east side of the organ casing carries two inscriptions side by side:

Left
THIS ORGAN
WAS PRESENTED TO THE
NEWSTEAD ABBEY CHAPEL COMMITTEE
BY MRS E M ELLIS
IN APPRECIATION OF HER
MANY HAPPY YEARS OF WORSHIP
IN THIS CHAPTER HOUSE
24 MARCH 1968
Right
THIS ORGAN
WAS PRESENTED
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
LOUISE PETERS
WHO WORSHIPPED HERE
FROM 1967 – 1985
EASTER SUNDAY
20 MARCH 1989
The organ

The plate on the right appears to refer to the present electronic organ, given by the Peters family in 1989. The Instrument carries a small label which states:

VISCOUNT ELECTRONIC ORGAN   DK520

The cabinet is matt finish dark oak wood veneered. There is a matching bench. The dimensions of the instrument are:

Height: 111 cm

Width: 116.5 cm

Depth: 88.5 cm

Weight: 87 kg

The specifications are:

Manual 1 (lower keyboard)

Prinzipal 8’  Salizional 8’  Offenflöte 8’  Prinzipal 4’  Flöte 4’  Nasard 2²/³  Oktave 2’  Waldflöte 2’  Spitzquinte 1¹/³ ‘  Siflöte 1’  Mixtur lll-Fach  Dulzian 8’  Regal 8’

Manual 2 (upper keyboard)

Bourdon 8’  Prinzipal 8’  Viola di Gamba 8’  Rohrflöte 8’  Prastant 4’  Rohrflöte 4’ Quinte 2²/³’  Oktave 2’  Blockflöte 2’  Zimbel ll-Fach  Trompete 8’  Clairon 4’  

Pedalboard (radiating)

Kontrabass 16’  Subbass 16’  Prinzipal 8’  Gedackt 8’  Oktave Bass 4’  Mixtur lV-Fach  Posaune 16’ Trompete 8’

From the minutes lodged at Nottinghamshire Archives it would appear that the previous organ, installed in 1968, was a Hammond Instrument. It has not been possible to obtain details of this previous organ.

There is also reference to an organ installed in 1899 in memory of Emilia Maria Goodlake. This may be the instrument described as a Harmonium which is now on display in the house.