[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Pudwoppa

I was trawling t'interweb and found this bit of info attached to an 'Angel Harp'.

"An instrument like this was sometimes called an Angel Harp but this one is known as The Fairy Bells and was manufactured solely by R. Cook & Co. in the mid 1800's.

In March 1878, a certain Mr. Hargreaves Gill of Accrington, who was said to be unequalled as a performer on this instrument, performed before the then Prince of Wales at a concert at Croxteth Hall in Liverpool. The Prince was so impressed that he granted Mr. Gill use of his Coat of Arms. After this honour Mr. Gill, who was originally a mill worker in Accrington, "attained a tolerably good position" - Accrington Times, 1st January, 1881."

Personally I'd never heard of him. I normally search Accy Web first to reference but found no mention of him, so I thought I'd post this to see if anyone can provide more info. Apologies if he's been mentioned before; but I did look :|

Lived in Warner St at one time. some of his descendants now live in Australia.
Retlaw