William Barrow (1890-1972) and his wife Elsie Mabel Barrow (d. 1972) of Llandudno were collectors of rare and significant musical instruments, together with books on music and original music mss. They opened their collection to the public in their home at Nant-y-Glyn, Church Walks under the title 'The William Barrow Permanent Collection of Antique Musical Instruments'. Their leaflet describes some of the instruments and states that all of them are in playing order and that the collection is linked with the University of London.
Both Mr and Mrs Barrow died in 1972, when their collection was sold at Sotheby's where it realised a price of £33,676 (their daughter Georgina having predeceased them in 1965).
The papers and photographs were found amongst the records of Miss Dorothy Weir of Rhos-on-Sea, their neice.