john christie obtained the use of the house in 1913 after the death of william langham christie, his grandfather. he came into full legal possession of the estate in 1920. among other renovations, he added to the house an organ room, long, in the process almost doubling the length of the south facade of the house. this room contained one of the largest organs outside of a cathedral in the country. it was built by the firm of hill, norman & beard ltd (bought by christie in 1923). after the second world war, john christie made a gift of sections of the soundboards, pipes and structural parts to the rebuilt guards chapel, wellington barracks (which had been destroyed in the blitz); the case and console remain at glyndebourne.