Person    | Male  Born 27/4/1821  Died 11/2/1901

'Father' Henry Willis

Organ builder. Born north-west London. His first London workshop was in Foundling Terrace, Gray's Inn Road. Then when he got the commission to build the large organ for the Great Exhibition he moved to larger premises in Argyle Square/Street at King's Cross. In 1859 he moved his works to 119 Albany Street and in 1863 to The Rotunda in Rochester Place. Built organs for many cathedrals and, in London, for Alexandra Palace, Royal Albert Hall and St Paul's Cathedral. Died at home, Argyle Villa, 2 Bartholomew Road. The title 'father' was given partly to differentiate him from his nephews and sons who also worked in the business but also as a mark of respect.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
'Father' Henry Willis

Commemorated ati

Henry Willis

Greater London Council 'Father' Henry Willis, 1821 - 1901, organ builder, liv...

Read More

Other Subjects

Royal Doulton / Doulton Potteries

Royal Doulton / Doulton Potteries

Ceramic manufacturing company. Began with a factory at Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth. Initially a partnership of John Doulton, Martha Jones, and John Watts, Jones left in 1820 leaving the company name as ...

Group, Craft / Design, Industry

39 memorials
William Bainbridge Reynolds

William Bainbridge Reynolds

Art metal worker and an architect. Born Chelsea.  He became very successful and his metalwork features in many cathedrals and churches. His patrons included almost every important architect of the ...

Person, Architecture, Craft / Design

1 memorial
David Tootill

David Tootill

Mosaic/ceramic artist, active c. 2005.

Person, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Royal Carriage Department

Royal Carriage Department

The Royal Brass Foundry in Woolwich was already producing carriages as well as guns but in 1803-5 a building dedicated to carriages was constructed - see picture.  John's Military History, the sour...

Group, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Quentin Newark
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Admiral Duncan pub bombing

Admiral Duncan pub bombing

Well known as a gay pub, the Admiral Duncan was the site chosen by Neo-Nazi David Copeland to detonate a nail bomb which killed three people and wounded 70. Copeland, who was also responsible for ...

Event, Commerce, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink, Gender Issues, Terrorism, Tragedy

3 memorials
County Borough of West Ham

County Borough of West Ham

Former outer London borough. It included Plaistow, West Ham, Stratford, Canning Town, Silvertown and the current Borough of Newham west of Green Street. It was amalgamated with other areas to form ...

Place, Politics & Administration

3 memorials
Worshipful Company of Butchers

Worshipful Company of Butchers

From the Butchers' website: "Five of our seven Halls were burned down including destruction in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The fourth Hall, in Pudding Lane, was subject to a compulsory purch...

Group, Food & Drink, Liveries & Guilds

2 memorials
Sir Edward Burne-Jones

Sir Edward Burne-Jones

Painter. Born Birmingham, his mother dying as a result of his birth. Met his life-long friend, William Morris, at Oxford University. Dropped out of his degree and went to London to become a pupil o...

Person, Art

3 memorials