Post-earthquake inspections
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First visit, May, 2011
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Just a few days before the work on the organ was to have finished, the 6.3 earthquake in February knocked Christchurch to the ground and closed access to the town hall, and the organ, to everyone. Nearly 3 months to the day we were able to go briefly inside the hall to inspect the organ for damage. Thanks mainly to Rieger's fine workmanship, the organ has survived remarkably well, with pipes toppling but the main wooden frame taking the brunt of the upward thrusts extremely well. View the slides of the exterior and the pedal department and the Great Division below. We were unable to access the Swell and new Oberwerk because the ladder had come adrift.