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

Rex Silver

Rex Silver

Textile designer.  Born Reginald in Islington, the son of Arthur. In 1914 he was living at 1 Haarlem Road, Hammersmith.  In 1922 he married Sybil L. Peerless in Hendon, Middlesex.  At the time of h...

Person, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Sylvia Richardson

Sylvia Richardson

Mosaic artist active in 2007.

Person, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Maxwell Bros.

Maxwell Bros.

Based at 308 - 312 Brixton Hill. Brixton Buzz has an article about their premises with this 1960s photo. Note that "Maxwell" is also on the high bar across the side alley confirming they operated ...

Group, Craft / Design, Property

1 memorial
Vanessa Bell

Vanessa Bell

Artist and interior designer, born Vanessa Stephen at 22 Hyde Park Gate, London. Sister of Virginia Woolf. She married Clive Bell in 1907 and their home in Gordon Square became the focus of what wa...

Person, Art, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Guss Strehle

Guss Strehle

The foundry in Germany where the statue of Saint Volodymyr was cast.

Group, Craft / Design, Germany

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Thomas James Clements

Thomas James Clements

1883, Trustee of Lopping Hall, Loughton. According to G. Sludge, ".. a tea broker".

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Francis Cranmer Penrose

Francis Cranmer Penrose

Architect, archaeologist, astronomer and rower.  Born Lincolnshire.  Surveyor to the Fabric of St Paul's Cathedral 1852 - 1899.  Died Wimbledon.

Person, Architecture, History, Science, Sport / Games

2 memorials
Samuel Beeton

Samuel Beeton

Publisher and journalist. Born 39 Milk Street, Cheapside. At the age of twenty-one, he set up a publishing partnership which immediately had the opportunity to publish 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' by the th...

Person, Journalism / Publishing

1 memorial