The Workshop

The workshop began in the former village school in the hamlet of Oldhamstocks which nestles among the hills at the eastern end of the Lammermuir Hills in East Lothian.  In 1989 the building was enlarged by the addition of a fully-equipped machine room.  As space was always somewhat limited, and also because of a fire in March 2000 which started in the machine room roof, we have built a new workshop in a stunning position overlooking the 12th century village church, and with panoramic views of the hills.  Starting from a green field site has enabled us to construct a building ideally suited to the needs of organbuilding - the accommodation comprises a large machine room, a central assembly area with headroom of 8.5m, a large bench room, drawing office/voicing room and storage facilities.  The building is of modern construction, with a steel frame, but clad with timber which will weather to blend with the natural landscape.

Our commissioning of an all-new organ building workshop is, as far as we know, a first in the whole of Scotland!

Neil Richerby served his apprenticeship with Church & Co. in Northumberland after studying organ performance at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.  He then worked for N P Mander Ltd in London while studying at the Gerwerblicheberufsschule fur Musikinstrumentenbau in Ludwigsburg, Germany.  This led to employment with the South German firm of Monch und Prachtell Orgelbau in Uberlingen am Bodensee, and then as organbuilder and designer for Brunzema Organs Inc, Fergus, Ontario, Canada.

Lammermuir Pipe Organs is a business member of The International Society of Organbuilders.