John Crang (1710-1774) was a maker of keyboard instruments and pipe organs in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in the mid eighteenth century.

Personal life

John Crang was baptised on 4 July 1710 at All Saints, North Molton, Devon, son of John Crang and Grace Pulsford.

Career

Although there was a long history of organ makers who originated from this area of Devon, such as John Chappington and

John Loosemore John Loosemore (August 1616 – 18 April 1681) was an English builder of pipe organs. He is best known for his organ at Exeter Cathedral in Devon, which he completed in 1665. John Loosemore was born in Barnstaple where he was baptized on 25 Au ...

, John Crang does not appear to be directly connected with either of them. He is thought to have been the apprentice of Christopher Shrider, who in turn had been the foreman of the well known London organ maker, Bernard Smith. John Crang's earliest known instrument still in existence is a claviorgan (a harpsichord and an organ combined) made in 1745. It was originally located at Nettlefold Castle until 1953 and is now in a collection of musical instruments held by the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

. John Crang repaired organs including in

St Paul's Cathedral, London St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...

. He also built the organ at St Peter's Church, Barnstaple, one of the largest in Devon, in 1764, which was donated by Sir George Amyand, 1st Baronet (1720-1766), MP for Barnstaple (1754-1766). He traded on his own account until 1770 from premises in Wych Street, London. In around 1770, two of his nephews, John Crang Hancock and James Hancock, joined him in business, trading as Crang & Hancock. Together they repaired and made a range of keyboard instruments including harpsichords, spinets, pianos and organs.

Death

John Crang died in 1774 and his last will and testament was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 19 June 1775National Archives, Reference PROB 11/1008/313

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crang, John 1710 births 1774 deaths British pipe organ builders British musical instrument makers Instrument makers People from London