Charles Lloyd (organ builder)

Charles Lloyd (8 September 1835 - 8 October 1908) was a pipe organ builder based in Nottingham who flourished between 1859 and 1908.

He was born in London on 8 September 1835, the son of Samuel Lloyd a shoemaker. He was baptised on 18 March 1838 in St Pancras New Church. In 1851, aged 15, he was described as "apprentice organ builder".

He married Mary Ann Dennison (b ca. 1841 in Nottingham) in 1864.

Charles Lloyd had previously worked for Samuel Groves of London. Lloyd set up in business first with Lorenzo Valentine and shortly afterwards with Alfred Dudgeon. Their workshop was at 52A Union Road, near the centre of Nottingham. They were soon at work installing organs in places of worship in and around the Nottingham area. Lloyd was commissioned by Sydney Pierrepont, 3rd Earl Manvers of Holme Pierrepont, to construct and exhibit a two manual and pedal organ at the Birmingham Trades Exhibition in 1865. It won Lloyd a gold medal award for its workmanship and tone. After the exhibition, the organ was moved back to Nottingham and installed in St. Edmund's Church, Holme Pierrepont.

Lloyd & Dudgeon were partners until the death of Albert Dudgeon on 6 February 1874. The company name was then changed to C. Lloyd & Co, Church Organ Builders, Nottingham.

When the Great Central Railway was brought to Nottingham in 1896, land occupied by the Lloyd business had to be cleared to make way for the Victoria Station. Lloyd moved to 79 Brighton Street, St Ann’s.

In 1909, his son, Charles Frederick Lloyd took over the business and it continued until 1928 with no change to the name. The company was then acquired by Roger Yates.

The first was Ernest Wragg of Carlton who, after his period of training, set up as an organ builder himself in 1894 on Carlton Road, Thorneywood, as E. Wragg & Son, Organ Builders.

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