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St Oswald’s Church Organ – Driver Nellie Taylor

The organ in the Grade I listed St Oswald's Church was donated by Mr & Mrs John Taylor in memory of their daughter Nellie, a military ambulance driver who died on active service in France on 27th June 1918. The order was given in March 1923 to the leading Yorkshire organ-building firm of J. J. Binns, and was installed in November the same year. It had three manuals and 26 speaking stops.

In 2020 a £10,000 grant was awarded through the War Memorials Trust Grant Scheme (WMTGS) to conserve the organ as its condition had deteriorated. The external appearance of the organ was improved by cleaning and polishing the bronze plaque as well as cleaning and wax polishing the oak casework. Some slight sagging had occurred due to the weight of the overhanging case was corrected with discrete internal support. The consoles of the organ were carefully conserved, with the original ivory keyboards and drawstops restored and the timbers repaired and polished. Internally every part of the organ has been cleaned, repaired or replaced where necessary. The organ pipework has been burnished to its original finish. The organ action was electrified but this element of work was not eligible for funding under the WMTGS scheme.

Dismantling the organ began on 31st October 2022 and was substantially completed by August 2023. A re-opening recital was held on 30th September 2023 by James Lancelot, a former Master of the Music at Durham Cathedral.

The plaque on the memorial reads:

"Dedicated to the Glory of God & In loving memory of Nellie Taylor V.A.D., of the 10th Motor Ambulance Convoy, British Red Cross who died in France June 27th 1918, and was interred at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport. Second daughter of John Taylor Esq. C.B.E. and Mrs Taylor of Helmside, Grasmere, and Brywoodd, Birkdale. This organ is the gift of her sorrowing parents."

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM11828
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: WMR 67644

War Memorials Online: WMO/258791

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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