Robert Spurden Rutt

Robert Spurden Rutt was an organ builder based in Leyton between 1899 and the 1959. He was apprenticed to the organ-builder Alfred Kirkland, of Holloway, in 1895 and se up his own business in 1899 The National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR) lists a number of addresses and trading names for the firm. The NPOR lists getting on for 200 organs in the Briish Isles which he was involved with, but the firm exported organs throughout the world, including two to Australia. Graces Guide says that twenty organs were sent to Jamaica, and his organs stood up to hot and humid climates. On his retirement the firm was absorbed by J.W.Walker & Sons.
He built or rebuilt a number of organs in what is now Waltham Forest including:
  • 2 in Chingford
    • North Chingford Methodist Church
    • St Peter & St Paul
  • 9 in Leyton and Leytonstone
    • Emmanuel
    • St Edward
    • St Joseph RC
    • Cann Hall Baptist
    • Gainsborough Methodist
    • High Road Methpdist
    • St John the Baptist
    • St Margaret of Antioch
    • Welsh Presbyterian, High Road
  • 5 in Walthamstow
    • Higham Hill Baptist
    • Our Lady & St George RC
    • St Mary's
    • All Saints Highams Park
    • Highams Park Cinema
There are another six Rutt organs in Woodford and Wanstead.
Possibly his greatest instrument was the one built in the People's Palace at Mile End.
The Highams Park Regal Cinema organ is now at the St Alban's Organ Museum.
Books
  • "The Pipe-Organs of London's East End and Its People's Palaces", by Donald A. Preece, ISBN 9780956789983 is likely to mention a number of his organs.
  • Fifty years of organ building by Robert Spurden Rutt, 1948

Robert Spurden Rutt occurs in these records:
Born 8 May 1880, Purleigh, Essex
Bap. 21 Jun 1880 All Saints, Purleigh. Som of Pattisson and Matilda
1881 RG11/1775 f110 p9 1891 in Reedham Asylum, Coulsdon, Surrey (Croydon RD) RG12/600 f103 p6
1901 Islington, Organ Builder RG13/166 f46 p25
Married 13 May 1905, Isabel Maud Avery Ridd (d. 1907), at St Mary's Leyton
daur Isabel Maud Avery Rutt b. 26 Feb 1907, d. 27 Feb 1990
1911 daur at Blandford, Dorset RG14/12217 sn: 38 - Rutt built the Blandford Forum Congregational Church organ in 1911
Married Q3 1917 Mabel Louise Vincent
Res: 490 High Road, Leyton, 1939
Died: 1 Mar 1960. Res: 20 Meadow Way, Chigwell

A search of the 1911 census for Organ Builders in Leyton produces a number of results who are Workers, likely for Rutt. Some actually say that they work for Rutt though one said he worked for Jones, Leyton. This is likely to be William C Jones b. 1875 Birkenhead, a metal organ pipe maker.

Organ Builders living in Leyton in 1911 listed as workers (not own account or employer)
Charles Herbert Coulson
Frederick C Wood
Samuel Walker - wood dept
Henry Stow - american organ & piano works asst
Kenneth Walter Raymond Sawtell
Eve Bennett (male)
Harry Ernest Blackburn
Ivan George Porter
Fredrick William Noble
Frank Ostler
Albert James Hopwood (R)
George Thomas Fuller (R)
Ebenezer George Ensor
Herbert Durien (app)
George Adams

(R) = stated they worked for Rutt
Some carpenters living in the same household were likely to work on organs too. Other occupations possibly employed by Rutt would have included organ and piano key makers.

Organ Builders in Cann Hall or West Ham 1911 listed as workers
Thomas Louis Colmer
Louis King
Louisa Emma Eyles
Frederick Carder
Ernest Edward Bicks
E R A Grant

There were organ builders living in Walthamstow, but railway routes make it as likely they worked elsewhere.
Harry Chater
Albert Thurgood
Harold Summers
William James Harold Parsons (app)
Frank Ostler
Alfred J Lamp
Harold John Hole (asst)
Sydney C Hartley
Walter Henry Hancock (clerk)
Stanley Fargher