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Retlaw · 08-02-2011, 16:46

[quote=Pudwoppa;881716]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."
Just had a reply to an email from one of his descendants.
He did live in Accrington, in the Plantation Mill St area as well as for a short time in Warner St with one of his close relatives. He then moved to Liverpool. His original set of Fairy Bells is with a descendant of his family who now resides in America.
There are also branches of Hargreaves Gill's family in Australia & Canada.
Retlaw

08-02-2011, 16:46	#4
Retlaw I am Banned Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Accrington. Posts: 4,627 Liked: 601 times Rep Power: 0	Re: Hargreaves Gill [quote=Pudwoppa;881716]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." Just had a reply to an email from one of his descendants. He did live in Accrington, in the Plantation Mill St area as well as for a short time in Warner St with one of his close relatives. He then moved to Liverpool. His original set of Fairy Bells is with a descendant of his family who now resides in America. There are also branches of Hargreaves Gill's family in Australia & Canada. Retlaw Last edited by Retlaw; 08-02-2011 at 16:52.