The Compton List is a detailed record of the 261 theatre organs built by the John Compton Organ Company, and installed in theatres, town halls, and studios throughout the UK and overseas before and, in a few cases, just after the Second World War.

It is the result of continuous research and documentation begun early in 1990 by Ivor Buckingham. This work not only attempts to replicate the content of the Compton factory records - which were regrettably lost in a wartime fire - but it also continues to record movements of organs, both intact and, in all too many cases, the movements of components from organs continuing to be altered or broken up. Through the years, the desire to alter, add to, 'improve' - and even make money from disintegrating - the UK's theatre organ heritage has far outweighed the desires and opportunities to preserve. Consequently, very few theatre organs now remain in their original locations, although the hard work of a correspondingly few dedicated preservationists enables a few more to remain recognisable as the instruments they once were.

In response to an increasing amount of enquiries relating to Compton Theatrones and Electrones, this website also includes a brief outline of their development. There are also pages providing a glimpse of the church and concert side of Compton which continued until their pipe organ division closed in the mid-1960s. Both sections feature a selection of photographs, many by Camera Craft of London. Regrettably, their negative library no longer exists, and these now rare prints are reproduced here by courtesy of former Compton employee Derek Batten.

I'd especially like to draw your attention to our Organ of the Month feature which highlights a different, interesting instrument each month. This month we feature the 10 unit Compton opened in 1934 at the Gaumont, Doncaster. This - like a sister organ opened the same month at the Gaumont, Derby - had a coupling third manual rather than a fully specified three manual console. These two organs were also equipped with the only known examples of the Bassett Horn rank, which replaced the Clarinet that would normally have been in the specification. The sound of the Bassett Horn was somewhat akin to that of the Krummet, and it's not known why these two organs should be so designed, but no further examples are recorded. The Doncaster instrument was removed in 1960 to the home of a Rotherham enthusiast, then in 1973 transferred to the West View Leisure centre - a converted chapel building in the Yorkshire village of Gomersal. Here it was modified to include a full three manual specification, and both building and organ achieved some fame when they later came under control of the Whiteley family as the '3Js' centre. It was here that some great young theatre organ talents were nurtured to become stars in their field, but sadly the 3Js centre was destroyed by fire in May 1987, and with it went all traces of the Doncaster Compton.

I hope to make The Compton List and the associated specifications available in print again before too long, my many other professional, hobby-related, and family committments depending.

Stephen Dutfield

Please note that all images on this website are copyright. In the event of other parties wishing to reproduce any image(s) on other websites, or elsewhere, they are required to first seek permission. It is unlikely that any reasonable and courteous request will be refused — so long as permission is asked before, and not after, the deed.