G M Holdich
| Born |
14th August 1816 |
Maidwell Hall, Maidwell, Northants |
| Died |
30th July 1896 |
Forest Hill, London |
| Buried |
1st August 1896 |
Ladywell Cemetery, Lewisham, London |
George Maydwell Holdich was the 4th son of The
Rev Thomas Holdich and his second wife Elizabeth Laura Maydwell
and after being apprenticed to the organ builder James Chapman Bishop
he started his own business in 1837.
Throughout his 57 years as an organ builder he occupied a succession
of London addresses. Chronologically these were:- Bishops Wall,
Lambeth; 12 Greek Street, Soho; 4 Judd Place East, New Road [which
became 42 Euston Road]; 24 Park Place West, Liverpool Road [which
became 361 Liverpool Road, Islington].
Altogether he built well over 400 organs. Most of his organs were
1 or 2 manual installed in small village churches but he also built
some larger instruments, notably the one for Lichfield Cathedral
in 1861. A few organs were installed overseas, e.g. Mount Zion,
Jerusalem; Australia; New Zealand.
His organs were very well built and sometimes innovative –
he introduced a type of octave-coupler called a Diaocton.
Well over 50 of his organs are still in regular use today and his
instruments are well thought of especially for their tonal qualities.
Several instruments have been awarded Historic Organ Certificates
by The British Institute of Organ Studies.
Upon his retirement in 1894 the business was sold to Eustace Ingram,
who for a short time traded as Holdich & Ingram before selling
out to Gray & Davison.
There is very little published material specifically about George
Maydwell Holdich but a non-technical booklet about GMH and his organs
has been produced by The Holdich Family History Society and copies
[price £4.00 sterling for the UK, £4.50 for the rest of Europe and £5.00 for the rest of the world] can be obtained from the authors
Marie & Michael Higginbottom, 34 Firthwood Road, Coal Aston,
Derbyshire S18 3BW.
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