The Church Organ at St. Petrock's, Donated in Memory of Major the Right Honourable Robert Nathaniel Dudley Ryder
Title
The Church Organ at St. Petrock's, Donated in Memory of Major the Right Honourable Robert Nathaniel Dudley Ryder
Subject
Description
A photograph of the organ at St. Petrock's Church in Timberscombe. Enclosed in a small built-in frame, made of the same wood as the organ and over the centre of the keyboard, a small plaque can be glimpsed. It reads "Norman & Beard Ld 1909".
Ernest William Norman worked as a cabinet maker for a London based organ builder. Becoming fascinated by the instrument, Norman opened his own organ building business in 1870 at Diss, a market town in South Norfolk. He moved to Norwich where by 1883, he went into partnership with his brother, Herbert Norman. Around 1885 they were joined by George A. Wales Beard and by 1887, Norman & Beard was advertised as "By Special Appointment to the Prince of Wales". Norman & Beard became one of Britain's most exclusive organ builders, creating organs across the world, including St. Michael's Cathedral at Norwich, Jesus College, Cambridge, Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Organ Hall at Glyndebourne and the Town Halls of Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand and Cape Town, South Africa (1).
St. Petrock's organ was donated by Lady Margaret Ryder, Lady Constance Ryder and their sister, Lady Audrey Anson, in memory of their brother, Major The Honourable Robert Nathaniel Dudley Ryder who had been killed during World War I on 30 November 1917, at the First Battle of Cambrai (2). The sisters brought the organ from their home, Knowle House, where they had moved in 1919 (3). The organ had originally been at High Ashurst in Dorking, Surrey where Lady Margaret and Lady Constance had lived before coming to Timberscombe and where Lady Anson had come to live after the death of her husband in 1904 (4).
A portrait of their brother is below the photograph of the organ. Major Ryder and his sisters were born at Sandon Hall, a 19th century mansion at Sandon, Staffordshire, the ancestral home of the Earl's of Harrowby. Their father was Henry Ryder, the 4th Earl of Harrowby and their mother was Susan Juliana Maria Hamilton Dent (5). Major Ryder was born 7 December 1882 (6). He was a younger brother. His older brother, John Herbert Dudley Ryder (1864-1956) became the 5th Earl of Harrowby (7).
Robert Ryder was educated at Harrow and then went directly into the Boer War between 1900 and 1902, where he obtained the rank of Major in the service of the 8th Hussars. From 1905 to 1908, he served as A. D. C. to Sir G. R. le Hunte in South Australia and from 1909 to 1913 was Adjutant to the Norfolk Yeomanry (8).
In 1908, Major Ryder married Beryl Angas in St. George's Church at Hanover Square, London. They had twins, a boy, Geoffrey Dudley and a girl, Rosemary Beryl, in 1909 (9). They lived at Cadogan Place, London (10).
Major Ryder was at the front by October 1914. He was killed, aged 34, by a sniper while holding back an enemy attack at Gouzeaucourt during the Battle of Cambrai and was buried at Villers-Faucon Communal Extension, Villers-Faucon, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France. He was called "the Babe" by his men (11).
The organ was placed within a chapel at the eastern end of the south aisle at St. Petrock's, dedicated on 4 February 1920 (12). It would have been played by his sister, Constance. A brass plaque on the panelling that had been restored by Lady Audrey Anson, next to the organ, reads: "To the glory of God and in memory of Lady Constance Ryder of Knowle. She was organist and choirmaster of this church for over 27 years and church warden for 12 years and gave devoted service to the boy scout movement for over 36 years. The call to higher service came on February 24th 1950 (13)". She was born in 1871 (14).
Lady Margaret Ryder, 11 years older than her sister, had died in 1932 (15). Lady Audrey Anson, born in 1875, had married Major Hon. Henry James Anson in 1902, at the same church as where her brother would marry in six years. Major Anson died after a severe bout of influenza at the age of 45 (16). Lady Anson died in 1956 (17). Panelled doors, made of ancient oak by William Schofield,, were installed in 1958, under the interior arch where St. Petrock's bell tower is entered, placed in memory of Lady Anson (18).
Ernest William Norman worked as a cabinet maker for a London based organ builder. Becoming fascinated by the instrument, Norman opened his own organ building business in 1870 at Diss, a market town in South Norfolk. He moved to Norwich where by 1883, he went into partnership with his brother, Herbert Norman. Around 1885 they were joined by George A. Wales Beard and by 1887, Norman & Beard was advertised as "By Special Appointment to the Prince of Wales". Norman & Beard became one of Britain's most exclusive organ builders, creating organs across the world, including St. Michael's Cathedral at Norwich, Jesus College, Cambridge, Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Organ Hall at Glyndebourne and the Town Halls of Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand and Cape Town, South Africa (1).
St. Petrock's organ was donated by Lady Margaret Ryder, Lady Constance Ryder and their sister, Lady Audrey Anson, in memory of their brother, Major The Honourable Robert Nathaniel Dudley Ryder who had been killed during World War I on 30 November 1917, at the First Battle of Cambrai (2). The sisters brought the organ from their home, Knowle House, where they had moved in 1919 (3). The organ had originally been at High Ashurst in Dorking, Surrey where Lady Margaret and Lady Constance had lived before coming to Timberscombe and where Lady Anson had come to live after the death of her husband in 1904 (4).
A portrait of their brother is below the photograph of the organ. Major Ryder and his sisters were born at Sandon Hall, a 19th century mansion at Sandon, Staffordshire, the ancestral home of the Earl's of Harrowby. Their father was Henry Ryder, the 4th Earl of Harrowby and their mother was Susan Juliana Maria Hamilton Dent (5). Major Ryder was born 7 December 1882 (6). He was a younger brother. His older brother, John Herbert Dudley Ryder (1864-1956) became the 5th Earl of Harrowby (7).
Robert Ryder was educated at Harrow and then went directly into the Boer War between 1900 and 1902, where he obtained the rank of Major in the service of the 8th Hussars. From 1905 to 1908, he served as A. D. C. to Sir G. R. le Hunte in South Australia and from 1909 to 1913 was Adjutant to the Norfolk Yeomanry (8).
In 1908, Major Ryder married Beryl Angas in St. George's Church at Hanover Square, London. They had twins, a boy, Geoffrey Dudley and a girl, Rosemary Beryl, in 1909 (9). They lived at Cadogan Place, London (10).
Major Ryder was at the front by October 1914. He was killed, aged 34, by a sniper while holding back an enemy attack at Gouzeaucourt during the Battle of Cambrai and was buried at Villers-Faucon Communal Extension, Villers-Faucon, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France. He was called "the Babe" by his men (11).
The organ was placed within a chapel at the eastern end of the south aisle at St. Petrock's, dedicated on 4 February 1920 (12). It would have been played by his sister, Constance. A brass plaque on the panelling that had been restored by Lady Audrey Anson, next to the organ, reads: "To the glory of God and in memory of Lady Constance Ryder of Knowle. She was organist and choirmaster of this church for over 27 years and church warden for 12 years and gave devoted service to the boy scout movement for over 36 years. The call to higher service came on February 24th 1950 (13)". She was born in 1871 (14).
Lady Margaret Ryder, 11 years older than her sister, had died in 1932 (15). Lady Audrey Anson, born in 1875, had married Major Hon. Henry James Anson in 1902, at the same church as where her brother would marry in six years. Major Anson died after a severe bout of influenza at the age of 45 (16). Lady Anson died in 1956 (17). Panelled doors, made of ancient oak by William Schofield,, were installed in 1958, under the interior arch where St. Petrock's bell tower is entered, placed in memory of Lady Anson (18).
Creator
the photograph of the church organ was taken by Marion Jeffrey /
the artist of the portrait is unknown
the artist of the portrait is unknown
Date
2017
c. 1914
c. 1914
Contributor
Format
Language
English
Identifier
St. Petrock's Church Organ and portrait of Major The Honourable Robert F. D. Ryder / Timberscombe / Village Centre
Acquisition Date
2020
Acquisition Method
Gift
Category
PLACES: Churches and Chapels / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
PEOPLE: Named / Timberscombe
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
Entered by Tom Sperling
Condition Date
2020
Dimension Type
W X L
Dimension Units
cm
Dimension Value
12 X 9
11 X 7.5
12 X 8.5 (ARTWORK)
11 X 7.5
12 X 8.5 (ARTWORK)
Institution Name
St. Petrock's History Group
Notes
(1) "A Short History of Norman & Beard, Ltd." by John Norman, great grandson Ernest William Norman, moothallorgan@co.uk (2) unofficialroyalty.com/november-1917,
masonicgreatwarproject.org and the peerage.com (3) "Timberscombe School MINUTES BOOK", 15 July 1903-11 October 1929 (4) "Gladdy's Story", the personal memories of Gladys Collins (1911-1991), who had worked at High Ashurst when Lady Margaret and Lady Constance had lived there and where Lady Anson came to live after being widowed, boxhillcommunity.com (5) the peerage.com (6) the peerrage.com (7) thepeerage.com (8) masonicgreatwarproject.org (9) the peerage.com (10) FindaGrave.com/ memorial/ 22537761/ robert-nathaniel_dudley-ryder (11) masonicgreatwarproject.org and FindaGrave.com (12) "The News Back", The West Somerset Free Press, wstp.co.uk (13) "St. Petrock's Church Timberscombe", church pamphlet written by Marion Jeffrey, 2017 (14) thepeerage.com (15) The Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 3 April 1930-2 April 1974, as Lady Margaret Ryder had became a Foundation Manager of the school, serving until her death in 1932 (16) Highland Light Infantry Chronicle, published by Royal Highland Fusiliers, books.google.co.uk (17) the peerage.com (18) "St. Petrock's Church Timberscombe".
masonicgreatwarproject.org and the peerage.com (3) "Timberscombe School MINUTES BOOK", 15 July 1903-11 October 1929 (4) "Gladdy's Story", the personal memories of Gladys Collins (1911-1991), who had worked at High Ashurst when Lady Margaret and Lady Constance had lived there and where Lady Anson came to live after being widowed, boxhillcommunity.com (5) the peerage.com (6) the peerrage.com (7) thepeerage.com (8) masonicgreatwarproject.org (9) the peerage.com (10) FindaGrave.com/ memorial/ 22537761/ robert-nathaniel_dudley-ryder (11) masonicgreatwarproject.org and FindaGrave.com (12) "The News Back", The West Somerset Free Press, wstp.co.uk (13) "St. Petrock's Church Timberscombe", church pamphlet written by Marion Jeffrey, 2017 (14) thepeerage.com (15) The Timberscombe School MINUTE BOOK, 3 April 1930-2 April 1974, as Lady Margaret Ryder had became a Foundation Manager of the school, serving until her death in 1932 (16) Highland Light Infantry Chronicle, published by Royal Highland Fusiliers, books.google.co.uk (17) the peerage.com (18) "St. Petrock's Church Timberscombe".
Storage Location
St. Petrock's History Group Archive
Storage Date
2020
Storage Notes
St. Petrock's History Group PHOTOGRAPHS
St. Petrock's History Group ARTWORK
St. Petrock's History Group ARTWORK
Item Reference
SP-071
Technique
Copies
Citation
the photograph of the church organ was taken by Marion Jeffrey /
the artist of the portrait is unknown, “The Church Organ at St. Petrock's, Donated in Memory of Major the Right Honourable Robert Nathaniel Dudley Ryder,” St. Petrock's History Group, accessed May 2, 2024, https://stpetrockshistorygroup.omeka.net/items/show/3404.
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