The Britton Organ at 70: Restored, Reawakened and Resounding Once More

A seven-year restoration

The organ’s return in 2026 follows an extraordinary seven-year restoration journey. When the transformation of Beacon Hall began in 2018, it soon became clear that the organ could not remain in place. With the roof removed and the building exposed to the elements, the only option was to dismantle it completely.

Over the course of six weeks, every pipe, valve, windchest and pneumatic motor was carefully catalogued and transported to Harrison & Harrison’s workshop in Durham. There, decades of dirt and nicotine staining were painstakingly removed. More than 1,000 handmade pneumatic motors were releathered, warped soundboards were corrected, and the console – previously damaged and difficult to move – was entirely rebuilt and mounted on a new mobile frame.

Throughout the process, Harrison & Harrison took a conservative and respectful approach: preserving the organ’s historic integrity while future-proofing it for modern performance. The result is an instrument that is almost entirely unchanged from its original 1956 specification, yet newly responsive and perfectly matched to the Beacon Hall’s world-class acoustics.

One of the most transformative changes lies in how the organ now speaks into the hall. In its original 1956 configuration, the sound was projected directly into a large baffle and upwards towards the auditorium ceiling. As part of the restoration, this baffle has been removed, allowing the organ’s voice to travel freely and resonate throughout the entire space. The result is a sound of far greater clarity and presence, fully revealed in the Beacon Hall’s renewed acoustics.

Throughout 2025, the organ’s voice has been patiently shaped by Jed Hughes, Organ Curator of the Britton Organ, whose meticulous voicing work has brought new clarity and character to the instrument. Working hand in hand with Harrison & Harrison, his expert ear and unwavering commitment have ensured the organ is not only restored, but truly ready to sing again.

The restoration was made possible thanks to the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, through Bristol Beacon’s In the Pipes project, and the Jack and Monica Britton Trust, whose longstanding commitment to music and young people is honoured in the organ’s name.

Opening recital: Anna Lapwood and a sold-out celebration

In the hands of Anna Lapwood MBE – one of the UK’s most celebrated and boundary-pushing organists – we heard the fully restored Britton Organ once again. Known for her commitment to making the instrument accessible to new audiences, Lapwood brought imagination, energy and a deep sense of occasion to the opening recital.

Her programme showcased the full breadth of the organ’s voice, performing some of her signature reworkings of pieces by Hanz Zimmer, John Williams, Rachel Portman and Ludovico Einaudi. Additionally, the audience were treated to a world premiere of seven of the nine movements from Lapwood’s incredible new Lord of the Rings Symphony. For many in the audience, it was their first experience of hearing the Britton Organ at full strength in Beacon Hall and the response was electric.

This recital was more than a concert. It was a homecoming, a birthday celebration and a statement of intent for the future. Lapwood will return to Bristol Beacon twice more during the anniversary year, continuing the celebrations and inviting even more audiences to experience the instrument’s renewed brilliance.

Inspiring the next generation

The story of the Britton Organ does not end with its restoration. Central to the project is a commitment to ensuring that this extraordinary instrument remains a living, working part of Bristol’s cultural future.

Alongside the organ’s return, we’ve launched a new scholarship programme offering free organ tuition to young musicians from across the city. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Jack and Monica Britton Trust, the scholarships are already supporting three local students – Joshua Le Poidevin, Jenna Ko and Christopher Nicks – through one-to-one lessons, workshops and hands-on experience with the instrument.

The wider ‘In the Pipes’ project is also reaching into schools and communities, exploring the social history of the organ and its civic role through creative workshops, songwriting and large-scale participatory performances. Later in 2026, more than 1,000 Key Stage 2 pupils will take to the Beacon Hall stage in a culmination concert inspired by the suffragette movement – accompanied by the Britton Organ itself.