Rare Hammersmith Organ Secures £247,788 Restoration Grant

Fahad Redha

September 18, 2026
2 min read

Rare Hammersmith Organ Secures £247,788 Restoration Grant

A rare 19th-century pipe organ hidden inside the chapel of a Hammersmith girls’ school is set for a major restoration after the project secured a £247,788 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The instrument at Sacred Heart High School on Hammersmith Road is the only known pipe organ in the UK made by Belgian craftsman Hippolyte Loret. Built in 1861, it was originally installed in a Paris convent before being rescued by a nun and brought to England.

The organ was reconstructed in the school chapel in 1904, but gradually fell into disuse and was long assumed to be a more conventional English instrument. That changed when organ expert William McVicker examined it and noticed a stop marked “Flute Pyramidale”, helping identify its unusual Loret construction.

The discovery revealed an instrument considered to be one of only a handful of Loret organs surviving anywhere in the world. Sacred Heart High School subsequently began fundraising to restore it and return it to regular use.

The restoration fund has now reached £327,815, combining the school’s own fundraising with the new Heritage Fund grant. The organ is being dismantled and transported to Canterbury, where specialist Mander organ builders will carry out the two-year restoration. It is expected to return to Hammersmith in August 2027.

The project extends beyond repairing the instrument. The Heritage Fund support will also help the school develop education and community activities, including opportunities for pupils to learn to play the organ. Plans are also being developed for public recitals and choral concerts once the restoration is complete.

The school is also using the project to explore its own heritage as a centre of women’s activism dating back to 1669. A radio documentary about the organ’s unusual journey from Paris to Hammersmith is currently in production.

The project will be showcased during this weekend’s Open House Festival, when visitors can explore a heritage trail and attend free short talks at the school between 9.40am and 4pm.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.