Alexandra Palace Organ
London N22 4AY
The unofficial website
Historic Photographs
The Father Willis Console
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Henry Willis III Console
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The Willis men at work on the Restoration of 1929
A spectacular view of the Great Hall from the passage boards of the Great Organ
The 5 ft Double Beam engine air compressor plant which supplied the “wind” for the Royal Albert Hall organ 1871.
Two steam engines were used, one of 12/13 horse power (9 KW) the other 8 hp. These engines were manufactured by John Penn & Son of Greenwich.
A similar pair was made by John Penn & Son for the Alexandra Palace of 12 & 8 hp, which were used until 1915 when concerts ceased. On only one occasion did the engine let off steam! This happened when no engineer was present. 24 hours notice had to be given to get up steam.
The RAH beam engine is currently the property of the Science Museum, London, being acquired in 1921. We can find no other record of the AP engine. It’s space at the Palace existed until after the 1980 fire.
