John Avery (organ builder)
John Avery (c. 1755 – 1807) was one of the main organ builders in England during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.[1]
Life[]
The organ builder John Avery was mainly based in London. He had a reputation as a colourful character, occasionally falling foul of the law, being declared bankrupt in 1775[2] and again in 1801,[3] and having a reputation as a 'shocking drunken character'.[4] Despite this he was responsible for some important organs, including those in King's College, Cambridge and Winchester Cathedral.
He appeared at the Old Bailey as a witness in two trials in 1797:
- on 12 July 1797 in the trial of Henry Gray, who was accused of stealing a handkerchief from John Avery's pocket.[5]
- on 20 September 1797 in the trial of Joseph Robson, who was accused of stealing John Avery's tools.[6]
One of his apprentices, Alexander Buckingham went on to work with Thomas Elliot before becoming an independent organ builder.
He died in Giltspur Street Compter.
Organs[]
Not much work by Avery survives, but there is an organ at Ponsonby Baptist Church, New Zealand, and one in the Finchcocks collection at Goudhurst, Kent.
A list of new organs built by Avery includes:
- Ditton Parish Church, Kent 1774
- St Stephen's Church, Coleman Street, London 1775
- St Michael's Mount, Cornwall 1786 (originally constructed for John Lemon, MP for Truro)
- Sevenoaks Parish Church 1788
- Quebec Chapel, Westminster 1788
- Coggeshall Parish Church, Essex 1790
- All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames 1793
- Croydon Parish Church 1794
- Lambeth Asylum, 1797
- Stroud Parish Church, 1798
- Winchester Cathedral 1799
- Christ Church, Bath 1800
- King's College, Cambridge 1803
- St Margaret's Church, Westminster 1804
- Carlisle Cathedral 1806
References[]
- ^ The Making of the Victorian Organ. Nicholas Thistlethwaite. 1999
- ^ Hampshire Chronicle - Monday 27 November 1775
- ^ Morning Chronicle - Monday 14 December 1801
- ^ The History of the English Organ. Stephen Bicknell, Cambridge University Press. 1999
- ^ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (accessed 26 March 2013), Trial of Henry Gray. (t17970712-70, 12 July 1797).
- ^ Old Bailey Proceedings Online (accessed 26 March 2013), Trial of Joseph Robson. (t17970920-67, 20 September 1797).
- Pipe organ builders
- Organ builders of the United Kingdom
- Manufacturing industries in London
- 1750s births
- 1807 deaths