An Eccles theatre organ museum is closing after 20 years.
The Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust can no longer afford to keep the heritage centre and museum in Peel Green open.
The Trust said on its Facebook page: “After much deliberation and soul searching… the trustees can now confirm that the centre will close at the end of June 2026.”
The Heritage Centre holds concerts every Wednesday at 1pm in the theatre-style auditorium which seats up to 80 people, where well-known organists perform on the Trust’s two rare organs.
Frequent visitor Niki Abnett said: “It will be a loss for the area and the theatre organ movement.
“The volunteers and trustees of the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust have been brilliant keeping this place running over the years.”
The trust will be selling a collection of items, including two pipe organs, a piano, a collection of records, tapes, CDs and printed memorabilia.
The proceeds from these sales will go towards securing the future of the organ in Stockport Town Hall, which is maintained by the trust.
The Trust, which is comprised solely of volunteers, was originally formed in 1968 by a small group of organ enthusiasts desperate to preserve a 4/20 Wurlitzer pipe organ in the Odeon Theatre, formerly the Paramount Theatre, Manchester.
It purchased the Heritage Centre, which was a disused Sunday school in Alexandra Road, Peel Green, Eccles, in 2002, before a team of dedicated volunteers began its four-year renovation.
Niki continued: “I know numbers are getting lower, and it has to be viable and make money to stay operational. I will miss it, but hopefully they’re on to new ventures.”
Details of a special closing concert will be available in the near future, but the trust will continue the weekly concerts until the centre’s closure.
Anyone interested in the items for sale can contact the trust at hcclosure@ltot.org.uk
