Thomas Elliot (organ builder)

Thomas Elliot (c. 1759 – 1832) was one of the main organ builders in England during the early 19th century.^[1]

History

The first records of Thomas Elliot as an organ builder date from 1790 when he was established in Holborn.^[2] Later he moved to premises on the Tottenham Court Road. He is thought to have worked for the company founded by John Snetzler.

He is thought to have formed a partnership with John Nutt, until Nutt's death in 1804.

Alexander Buckingham was foreman to Thomas Elliot for many years until establishing himself as an independent organ builder.

William Hill (1789–1870) married Thomas Elliot’s daughter Mary, and then joined the firm, which was renamed Elliot and Hill from 1825 until 1832.

Thomas Elliot died in 1832, and the business continued with William Hill, being known as William Hill & Sons.

Organs constructed

The case of the 1832 organ in York Minster

• Church of St John the Baptist, Bromsgrove 1809
• All Saints' Church, Thornage Norfolk 1812
• High Pavement Chapel Nottingham 1815
• St. James' Church, Standard Hill Nottingham 1815
• St Michael's Church, Broome Norfolk 1817
• St Michael Wood Street 1818
• Westminster Abbey Organ for Coronation of King George IV at Westminster Abbey, London 1821^[3]
• Old South Church (Third Church), Boston Massachusetts 1822^[4]
• St Mary's Church, Wirksworth 1826
• St John The Baptist Wolverley 1830 (As "Elliot and Hill")
• York Minster 1832
• Church of St Thomas the Martyr Newcastle upon Tyne 1832

References

1. The Making of the Victorian Organ Nicholas Thistlethwaite
2. Universal British Directory, 1790. p.137
3. London newspaper Morning Post of 2 July 1821
4. Hill, Hamilton Andrews, History of the Old South Church (Third Church) Boston 1669-1884. Volume 2. Cambridge Mass., The Riverside Press, 1890