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The English composer, Alphonse [Alfone] Cary of Newbury, is recorded as a music publisher and organ builder. He had works at Park Street, Newbury and had additional premises in Newbury and Kentish Town, London. It is quite possible that he made some reed organs too.
Alphonse Cary composed a lot of church music. He was a professor of music, and at one time he taught music at Douie School. He seems to have been an eccentric! He built and bought strange houses. He bought an old lighthouse in Brighton (where now stands the open air swimming pool). Another in Kingston on Thames was built to the shape of his initials. Another, in Bristol, was built to house his enormous wind organ. He also built a concert hall - Park Street, Newbury, where the public could enjoy good music.
On social occasions Alphonse Cary played the oboe in a quartet with his friends. Once when living in Brighton, he played with the quartet in some private home where the King was being entertained. He kept the huge cigar given him by the King as a momento. He also had an "aristocratic" nose of which he was very proud!
Alphonse Cary had 1 daughter and several sons. He was married 3 times outliving them all except for the last wife. Somewhere this branch ties up with the Carys of Torr Abbey Torquay, Marquise of Faulkland. There was a piano and organ firm called Alphonse Carey, 47-48 North Brook Street, Newbury, Berkshire. |
