278 Comments for Middlewood Hospital Chapel

Thanks for the heads-up on the equipment AGC; Mr. Peart is an excellent drummer, although not my taste of music.

sorry guys, but this is a just a decorative canopy for the reed organ on the following page. The people who built these organs also put these elaborate canopy tops on them, and fake organ pipes were extremely popular

this looks to me like an antique 'pump organ' which used reeds to produce the tones. There are two pedals (not visible in the pic) that the player must pump with their feet to operate the suction belows. Most musicians around the turn of the century who could not afford pianos bought these organs. The sound is like an accordion on steroids. Yes the organ IS made of real wood, and they were built by hand...too last. I have one like this in my living room that was made in 1898!!! and it's never been restored; only 'patched up' If Motts had drawn a stop or two, pumped the pedals and pressed a few keys, there is a good chance some sound might have come out.
BTW: these organs are NOT HEAVY at all. The 'fake pipe top' from the previous pic detachs, and organ itself can easily carried by two people, or one with a hand truck. Not that I advocate stealing, but obviously whoever owns this place could care less about what's in it (this goes for ALL the locations on this site) or it would have been removed and stored properly, not left to molder away in a vacant building. So I say, if you want it, go for it because if you don't, the wrecking ball will get it instead. And, for people who just leave stuff laying around like this in these places; they're asking to get ripped off.
PS: Motts, your favorite drummer is Neil Peart, right?

amazing .....good job :)

Short but sweet.

Requiem for a true heavyweight.

Sureal

Very nice.

Don't wanna slam those doors.

Good stuff

Only one manual??! I can't believe that!

Keep in mind the real pipes are hidden over the wind chest. They are made of soft lead,are of varying lengths,and are plain and drab to look at.
For the largest,deepest sounds tall wooden troughs called "Bombards' were used.(of varying lengths)These "bass" pipes often had wooden plates on the side of the speaker hole for direction,resonance,and baffling.They're back there too.
Sometimes little percussive bells struck with little hammers were used to get that chime effect,although you can get that effect with a short blast of air on the smaller pipes
My brother is a pipe organist.

To those who desecrate these places shall not find peace.

Wow now thats a great Picture !!!

Your pictures are simply amazing! I stumbled on this site when I was looking things up about asylums and stuff. I have been addicted since. Keep it up :)

as a nurse at middlwood i attended church service every sunday along with several hundreds of the patients it was a warm and friendly place so sorry its been left to rot