Wells Cathedral has revealed new details of the rebuild of its Grand Organ after the historic instrument was removed and transported to Durham for specialist restoration.

The organ, which sits on the pulpitum inside Wells Cathedral in Somerset, is now in the workshop of Harrison & Harrison where it will undergo an 18-month rebuild. Cathedral officials say the project aims to bring the instrument back closer to the musical vision created by Arthur Harrison when his firm carried out major work on it in 1910.

From a tonal perspective, the work will focus on restoring the character of the 1910 instrument while integrating the best surviving pipework from earlier builders including Henry Willis and Samuel Green.

The rebuilt organ will feature a series of additions designed to strengthen its sound in the cathedral nave and expand the range of tone colours available to organists.

Planned upgrades include new 32-foot flue and reed registers for the Pedal Organ alongside a new 16-foot Open Wood stop.

A new diapason chorus will also be added to the Great Organ. These pipes will be positioned at the top of the organ case so the sound reflects from the cathedral's stone vaulting and carries further into the building.

An additional 8-foot Orchestral Trumpet will be installed to complement the existing 1910 Tuba, while further tonal additions will include new mutations, mixtures, imitative reeds and additional 8-foot foundation stops.

The Swell and Solo organs will be fitted with shutters facing both east and west, allowing organists to direct the sound through the cathedral depending on performance needs.

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Cathedral officials say the design draws inspiration from recent Harrison & Harrison cathedral organ projects including York Minster and Norwich Cathedral.

The organ case designed by Alan Rome in 1974 will remain in place and will continue to house the rebuilt instrument.

A new console built in the traditional Harrison & Harrison style will feature curved stop jambs, inertia-weighted swell pedals, clam-shell lights and a range of modern playing aids.

Centuries of cathedral history

The Wells Cathedral organ has evolved over more than 350 years.

• 1664 – An organ was built by Robert Taunton

• 1786 – Samuel Green rebuilt the instrument

• 1857 – Henry Willis constructed a new three-manual organ

• 1891 – Willis added pneumatic action and a Pedal Bourdon

• 1910 – Harrison & Harrison built a largely new instrument

• 1973–74 – The action was converted to electro-pneumatic and new organ cases designed by Alan Rome were installed

The current rebuild will take the 1910 Harrison & Harrison specification as its starting point while modernising the instrument for future use.

The project has been supported by The Friends of Wells Cathedral, The Vinehill Trust and other donors, though cathedral officials say further fundraising is still required to complete the work.

The rebuilt organ is expected to return to Wells Cathedral in 2027.

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