The Loughborough Bell Foundry
The Gatehouse Tower at Auckland Castle housed a large early medieval bell previously unknown to conservationists, but with building restoration underway its secret is out. The bell dates from circa 1180 and was cast using the long abandoned “Cire Perdu” or lost wax method. The long waisted bell has a diameter of 28″ and weighs […]
Read more
It is rare nowadays to get an order for a really large bell, although we have cast one five tonner within the last year. Over the years many large bells have been cast, and we still retain the ability to cast more if orders are placed. The mould is built up from a base plate, […]
Read more
The carillon tower, which was built in the back garden of Foundry House adjoining the works in 1905, housed the worlds first harmonically tuned carillon to be cast and tuned to equal temperament. a total of 40 bells were cast and hung between 1905 & 1912 – the bass bell at this time was less […]
Read more
St John the Evangelist’s Parish Church, Kensal Green is situated in the London Borough of Brent and has two small turret-like towers adorning its West Front. Tony Fernandes, owner of Q.P.R. Football Club kindly offered to finance most of the cost of a new chime of eight bells (Bass Bell 2.5 cwts) and these have […]
Read more
Another manually playable carillon will soon be added to world list once work at Bathurst is complete. Originally installed by Taylor’s in 1933 as a World War I memorial the 35 bell instrument was played automatically using a pneumatic system with perforated paper rolls like a pianola. Last year Taylor’s was commissioned to carry out […]
Read more
Taylor’s recast the Great Bell of Tong in 1892 and hung it for full circle ringing with a massive hardwood headstock. Having served well for nearly 130 years the headstock has now been replaced with one made from cast iron. The bell was brought back to Loughborough for its refit. The photo shows the bell […]
Read more
Bridgwater in Somerset will shortly house Britain’s latest ring of twelve. The grand back eight were fully restored by Taylor’s in 1901, and all of the components supplied at that time are being restored and re-used in the “new” ring. Four new treble bells and a flat 6th bell have been cast and a thirteen […]
Read more
Traditionally bells were cast underground to protect the founder in the event of a pot bell case splitting. After the invention of cast iron bell cases in the mid 19th century this was no longer necessary as the new cases could contain all the forces generated during a cast. However, bells cast above ground cool […]
Read more