A magnificent Victorian fairground organ which hasn’t been seen in public for the past 20 years is coming out on display in Southport this Sunday (29th June 2025) as part of the North West Armed Forces Festival.
Families will be able to see Crichton’s No. 1 Bioscape Organ, part of Herbert Silcock’s personal collection, outside Silcock’s Funland and Silcock’s Carousel.
It will be one of many attractions on display in the King’s Gardens area of Southport this Sunday, which will also host military vehicles, fairground rides, stalls, a paintball range and more.
Silcock Leisure Group Operations Manager Serena Silcock-Prince said: “We are very excited to be able to show Crichton’s No. 1 Bioscape Organ to people this weekend!
“It will be around 20 years since it has been seen in public, and a decade since it was restored into full working order.
“It’s undergone a full restoration and MOT and will be out in all its glory for people to enjoy.”
At the 1902 Showman’s Fairground Exhibition at Alexandra Palace in London, Mr. James Crichton purchased an 89 key Gavioli organ built in Paris by Gaviolil, for use in his Number 1 Bioscope Show which toured the North West of England entertaining the public at fairgrounds and shows for many years.
With the death of Mr. Crichton, the organ was put into storage at his yard in Birkenhead.
In 1946 the organ was purchased by Silcocks for use on its fairs and was used until 1963 when it was sold to Mr. Chamberlain and and then onto Arthur Mills and was shown at steam fairs.
The organ, which is also known as the ‘General Gordon’, after the name of the conductor of the organ, was bought again by Silcocks in the 1980s and takes pride of place in Herbert Silcock’s collection.
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