Amersham Fair Organ Museum

The Museum is situated in an unmarked warehouse on Amersham’s industrial estate.

The collection includes instruments by Gavioli, Marenghi, Hooghuys, Wilhelm Bruder Söhne and Gebr.Weber.

The organs, operated via punched cards, would have travelled the country with fairs in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

When you enter you’ll find lots of seats in the middle of the hall and an array of exquisite organs performing on the sides.

Many of these have ingenious painted automatons that move with the music.

Mechanical ‘fairground’ organs were once used by travelling amusement proprietors in order to provide music for their rides. These instruments work on the same principle as the traditional pipe organ, but instead of being played by means of an organist at a keyboard, the organs ‘read’ a perforated cardboard book, paper roll or pinned cylinder.

Unfortunately, organs fell out of favour in the 1930s when low-cost amplified records became available; many instruments were simply destroyed or salvaged for parts. Thankfully some survived into the preservation age and the collection in Amersham is one of the finest in the country!

Admission is free on open days, though donations are gratefully received. Please consult the Museum’s website for full details and special events.

Visit Website