whitechapel bell foundry
the whitechapel bell foundry is a bell foundry in whitechapel in the london borough of tower hamlets, and is the oldest manufacturing company in great britain .
the facade of whitechapel bell foundry on whitechapel road. photograph: lonely planet / getty images / lonely planet images
whitechapel bell foundry is the oldest manufacturing company in u. k, known for the “liberty bell” and big ben
the whitechapel bell foundry completed the design, profile, lettering and tuning of the bell and royal eijsbouts of the netherlands cast the bell .
workers at the whitechapel bell foundry cast tower bells. photograph: michael freeman / getty images
the whitechapel foundry also has an illustrious history that includes making the bell for big ben .
the whitechapel bell foundry, a few miles from the olympic stadium, was commissioned to make the bell in 2011 .
whitechapel bell foundry is the oldest manufacturing company in u. k, known for the
liberty bell
and big ben
somehow the whitechapel bell foundry must be saved, an important part of the heritage of england .
whitechapel bell foundry will cease its activities at the whitechapel road site - where it has been since 1738 - in may next year .
a locog spokesman said: “the experts at the whitechapel bell foundry chose the best way possible to produce such a large bell. ”
the whitechapel bell foundry has existed for over 250 years on a site just up the road from the whitechapel art gallery and in aldgate for much longer .
whitechapel bell foundry dates back to the 16th century, and was set up during the reign of elizabeth i .
the bell foundry in whitechapel has changed hands many times, but it has always been a family business .
the whitechapel bell foundry began life in 1570 during the reign of elizabeth i. it moved to its site on whitechapel road in 1739 and has traded from the building since .
whitechapel bell foundry ltd announces, with regret, that by may 2017 it will cease its activities at the whitechapel road site that it has occupied since its move there in 1738 .
the bell design and clock mechanism at the houses of parliament were complicated and the first bell that was made for the site did not work. the project was then given to the whitechapel bell foundry .
whitechapel bell foundry, which opened in 1570, is in the guinness book of world records as britain' s oldest manufacturing company .
the continuation of the whitechapel bell foundry name and the unique sound and shape of our bells are assured for the future. whitechapel tower bells will in future be cast by westley group ltd .
after producing bells for churches, cathedrals and city halls for half a millennium, london' s whitechapel bell foundry has cast its last .
charles saumarez smith has written a book about east london featuring the whitechapel bell foundry, published by thames & hudson on 27 april 2017 .
the 11ft bell was made by the whitechapel bell foundry, which dates back to at least 1570 and cast big ben, was considered an obvious choice by the olympic organiser locog .
the firm’s own foundry does not have the capacity to make such a large bell .
the bell foundry archives are contracted to the london metropolitan archives, where they will be conserved and catalogued. they will remain the property of the whitechapel bell foundry ltd, and will be made available to the public for research, which was not possible whilst they were at the whitechapel premises .
the lead vessel of the pageant was a floating belfry carrying a set of eight church bells freshly cast at the whitechapel bell foundry in east london .
cast in 1858, at 13. 5 tons it is the largest bell ever made at whitechapel, and a cross - section of the bell still surrounds the entrance door to the foundry .
whitechapel bell foundry is moving its location after 250 years. there’s so much history in there and, people can now take some of it with them .
there is a certain timelessness inside london' s whitechapel bell foundry, where it could be the 21st century, or the 19th, or even earlier .
the foundry tours are all fully booked in 2017 and sadly the building has now been sold. the foundry business is now permanently closed at the current whitechapel location .
locog asked taylor’s bell foundry in loughborough, leics, to give a quote for the job .
but in may the famous foundry will have cast its last bell after 447 years in business .
due to forthcoming relocation of the business there will be no further tours at whitechapel. foundry tours have now ended .
so very sad to hear the news of the closure of the whitechapel bell foundry. as a born east - ender from a family who lived and worked in spitalfields and bethnal green. i often passed the foundry on my way to whitechapel market, it will be greatly missed .
the collection is available for access by prior appointment only until cataloguing has been completed. lma and whitechapel bell foundry in partnership plan to complete cataloguing by late 2019 .
in 1752, the foundry cast the liberty bell, an icon of american independence, and in 1858 it cast big ben, the largest bell ever cast at the foundry, weighing 13½ tonnes .
“bell ringing has been with us forever. in all of history, the only things that haven’t changed are the human voice and the sound of bells, ” says alan hughes, director at whitechapel bell foundry .
whites of appleton ltd, church bell hangers, a company with whom the whitechapel bell foundry has worked closely for 197 years, has purchased the pattern equipment to continue making whitechapel components. whites have also purchased a new tuning machine which, with continuing expert consultancy from whitechapel, will enable them to offer a high standard of tuning to church bells .
i have written in support of the whitechapel bell foundry and have shared and spread the world. to loose such a unique place would be a crying shame. georgina southall
in its 500 year history, the whitechapel bell foundry has built the clock bells for st. paul’s cathedral in 1709, the original liberty bell in 1752, and, perhaps most famously, big ben in 1858 .
short film about the foundry, showing the shaping of bell clappers, and the company' s owner, william hughes, tuning a large bell .
the whitechapel bell foundry designed the olympic bell seen at the opening ceremony for the london 2012 olympic games, although it was not cast on the premises. the furnaces at whitechapel could not provide the 23 tons of molten metal required to make the bell, so it was manufactured at a factory in the netherlands which normally produces ship’s propellers .
• famous bell will be installed near the stadium • the iconic bell was rung by sir bradley wiggins in the london 2012 opening ceremony • the bell is the largest harmonically - tuned bell in the world and the second heaviest bell in europe .
amherst d. tyssen, ‘the history of the whitechapel bell - foundry’, transactions of the london and middlesex archaeological society, vol. 5, 1923, p. 211 ↩
a short film of a visit to the bell foundry, with an explanation of repair work, on 1 april 2016, the year before the foundry closed .
the whitechapel bell foundry, based in london' s whitechapel, has long been the international centre for bespoke bells but the family run business has announced it is now set to close due to the
changing realities
of running a niche business .
at the palace of westminster. cast in 1858, this is the largest bell ever cast at whitechapel, weighing 13½ tons. to this day, a cross - section of the bell surrounds the entrance door to the foundry .
the bell’s note is a b which makes it the lowest tone of any bell in the world .
the bell is 30 centimetres wider than britain’s previous largest bell, ‘great paul’ at st paul’s cathedral .
[ 2 ] amherst d. tyssen, ‘the history of the whitechapel bell - foundry’, transactions of the london and middlesex archaeological society, vol. 5, 1923, p. 211
nigel taylor, the whitechapel bell foundry’s head moulder, who is also working on a giant bell that will be rung at the opening ceremony of the london olympics, said many people had been sceptical about whether a floating belfry could work .
“so it was a great surprise when we heard that a bell was being cast. through our contacts we discovered it was being cast in a dutch bell foundry .
the spitlefields trust application to have the whitechapel bell foundry registered as an asset of community value is a very good idea. this unique bell foundry should be saved for future generations so that an ancient skill can be kept alive, can provide work and continue to make and repair bells for our churches .
i am delighted to announce that a consortium of heritage groups have come together in a bid to save the whitechapel bell foundry by exploring how the site may continue as a working foundry. we shall be publishing reports on this endeavour as it evolves .
as britain rang in the new year on thursday, there was a strong chance that the bells you heard were made by britain’s oldest manufacturing firm, whitechapel bell foundry, established in 1570 .
hughes adds that although whitechapel bell foundry will always remain a tiny enterprise because of its niche service, it has a loyal following and it’s a one - of - a - kind business .
the whitechapel bell foundry, britain' s oldest manufacturing firm, is set to close at its current site, bringing an end to a family business that has run for almost 500 years .
and how far back does the whitechapel bell foundry go ?
we have always claimed 1570 ,
said hughes .
historical researches indicated we were more likely established sometime around 1420 .
one of only 20 bell foundries in the world, whitechapel first opened for business in 1570 in the area that is now brick lane. the foundry moved to its current location in 1738 .
the whitechapel bell foundry is one of the most famous manufacturers of bells in the world. the foundry was located in the heart of the east end, the foundry is also the oldest manufacturing company in britain, according to the guinness book of records. it has made some of the best known bells in the world, including big ben and the liberty bell .
the bell foundry in whitechapel has changed hands many times, but it has always been a family business. my own family has owned the foundry since 1904, but other families have run the firm through its history, which stretches back to 1570 .
very sad to hear the bell foundry is closing. i do hope another person / family can take it on !
the company dates back to 1570. the present premises on whitechapel road and plumbers row dates from 1670 and was formerly a coaching inn called “the artichoke” which ceased trading in 1738. the following year, the whitechapel bell foundry moved in and occupied the site to the present day .
thank you for raising this issue. i was very saddened when i heard about the closure of the whitechapel bell foundry. now very pleased that there is still some hope through the spitalfield trust bid .
lists the whitechapel bell foundry as britain' s oldest manufacturing company, having been established in 1570 (during the reign of queen elizabeth i) and being in continuous business since that date. in 1970, therefore, the foundry celebrated its quatercentenary... .
taylor’s has a proud history in bell - making: the firm produced the great paul bell for st paul’s cathedral in 1881 and the great peter bell for york minster .
one of the most famous bells in the world, big ben is the biggest bell ever cast at whitechapel, and the gauge used to make the mould for the bell still hangs on the wall of the foundry moulding shop to this day... .
being as old as it is, means the foundry was here in 1888, when jack the ripper stalked the streets of whitechapel... .
bells at the bell foundry whitechapel is one of only two functioning foundries remaining in the uk, the other being at loughborough. it’s still a family firmby ceridwen, cc by - sa 2. 0 ,
the ceremony is designed to celebrate the best of british and a global audience of one billion is expected to tune in. yet organisers awarded the bell commission to the whitechapel bell foundry in east london, which has sub - contracted the task to a dutch manufacturer .
so sad to see one of britain’s most important historic sites being closed. please follow our website link urltoken for more on whitechapel’s amazing bell history
the whitechapel foundry became at this time the most famous foundry in england, (fn. 11) dobson' s foundry at downham market, norfolk, having been fused into it, as well as the gloucester foundry, which was incorporated in 1732. the old foundry at gloucester had existed for centuries.' john of gloster' was a bell - founder there in the 13th century; but it came chiefly into note under the rudhall family in the 18th century .
it is with deep regret that i announce the closure of whitechapel bell foundry, the world’s most famous bell foundry and britain’s oldest manufacturing company. below you can read my interview with alan hughes, the last in a line of bell founders stretching back to 1420, who will retire next year at sixty - eight years old when the foundry closes in may 2017 and the building is sold – meanwhile, negotiations for the future ownership of the business are underway .
like everyone else, the directors and employees of whitechapel bell foundry were deeply moved by the terrible events of last year, and are honoured that through the casting and dedication of the bell they were able to play some small part in this first anniversary day of remembrance .
he world' s oldest bell foundry, which made big ben and liberty bell, is closing after 500 years despite its attempts to keep the business afloat with the downton abbey effect .
the whitechapel bell foundry, which closed in june 2017, was a remarkable survival. its business cards claimed it as ‘britain’s oldest manufacturing company’ and ‘the world’s most famous bell foundry’ – the first not readily contradicted, the second unverifiable but plausible. it had been said that the bell foundry ‘is so connected with the history of whitechapel that it would be impossible to move it without wanton disregard of the associations of many generations. ’ 1 the business, principally the making of church bells, had operated continuously in whitechapel since at least the 1570s. it had been on its present site with the existing house and office buildings since the mid 1740s .
the foundry has been owned by the hughes family since 1904. alan hughes and his wife kathryn have sold the grade ii - listed building on whitechapel road and are considering options for when the foundry leaves in may 2017 .
so sad to see one of britain’s most important historic sites being closed. please follow our website link above for more on whitechapel’s amazing bell history .
on 2 december it was announced that the whitechapel bell foundry will close in may 2017. this will mark the end of what has been a remarkable story. business cards claim the bell foundry as ‘britain’s oldest manufacturing company’ and ‘the world’s most famous bell foundry’ – the first not readily contradicted, the second unverifiable but plausible. it has been said that the foundry ‘is so connected with the history of whitechapel that it would be impossible to move it without wanton disregard of the associations of many generations. ’ [ 1 ] the business, principally the making of church bells, has operated continuously in whitechapel since at least the 1570s, on its present site with the existing house and office buildings since the mid 1740s .
big ben remains the largest bell ever cast at whitechapel. visitors to the foundry pass through a full size profile of the bell that frames the main entrance as they enter the building. the original moulding gauge employed to form the mould used to cast big ben hangs on the end wall of the foundry above the furnaces to this very day .
the survey of london has launched a participative website, ‘histories of whitechapel’. please visit at: urltoken. we welcome contributions from any and all. for more information about the whitechapel bell foundry, and to add your memories and photographs, please visit urltoken / map / feature / 155 / detail / .
one of the sadder bits of news in the last month is that the whitechapel bell foundry, which has existed on a site just up the road from the whitechapel art gallery for over 250 years and in aldgate for much longer, is due either to move or to close down altogether in may this year .
an entry in the guinness book of records lists the whitechapel bell foundry as britain' s oldest manufacturing company, having been established in 1570 (during the reign of queen elizabeth i) and being in continuous business since that date. in 1970, therefore, the foundry celebrated its quatercentenary .
i was shocked to hear that the whitechapel bell foundry might close. i can understand that the family owners have no obligation to ‘save’ the business, and normally i would have no regrets about other types of business disappearing .
it has been several centuries since the boom years of bell making, yet the foundry is finding ways of adapting to modern times .
on weekends, the foundry runs tours, although bell enthusiasts hoping to visit may have to book up to a year in advance .
the whitechapel foundry has been part of my working life for 40 years. i studied at the london hospital medical college in the mid seventies and have practised medicine in east london most of the time ever since. there was a tradition in the past for giving handbells cast at the whitechapel foundry when consultant staff retired. i think the bell that used to sit in the front entrance of the london hospital before it went royal was also cast at the foundry .
moulds aren’t used as each bell is unique and tailored to suit an individual’s needs. bell tuning requires a musical ear and workers continue cutting the bell to size until it rings in perfect pitch. hughes learned the craft of bell making from his father .
i heard the news yesterday from the foundry as i had called to ask about the commissioning of a new bell. a life long love of bells, decades of fascination passing the foundry almost daily and finally the moment when i would commission a bell from the very place. the foundry was very matter of fact and whilst i spluttered with incredulity they explained how they would still be able to oversee the commission through the coming changes. very sad a new bell won’t have ‘whitechapel’ cast into it .
the foundry, which made big ben and was established in 1570, when queen elizabeth i was on the throne, will stop trading at whitechapel road next year .
in britain, the most famous bell manufactured by the foundry is probably big ben. this is the largest bell ever cast at the foundry, coming in at a whopping 13 and a half tons. it stands over seven feet tall and is over nine feet wide .
based in london' s whitechapel road since 1738, i ts most famous creation was big ben, the bell in elizabeth tower at the palace of westminster .
last year it was announced that britain’s oldest manufacturing company, the whitechapel bell foundry would close its doors this may. having made bells their business since 1570, the long list of gongs and ringers created behind the east end doors include big ben, westminster abbey and the famous us liberty bell .
prince charles strikes the the royal jubilee bell named ‘charles’ during a visit to the whitechapel bell foundry in 2012. the jubilee bells – named elizabeth, philip, charles, anne, andrew, edward, william and henry – were rung from a floating belfry at the head of the thames pageant .
the east end preservation society has launched a petition to karen bradley, secretary of state for culture, media & sport to save the whitechapel bell foundry which is due to shut forever in may after five centuries in the east end .
whitechapel musical handbells and the supplies of supporting music and accessories will be available to purchase from bells of whitechapel ltd, along with the entire range of whitechapel presentation bells, door bells, bracket bells and ships bells, all of which will continue to be cast and finished in london .
the spitalfields trust has submitted an application to tower hamlets council to have whitechapel bell foundry designated as an asset of community value. it would be invaluable if readers can write in support of this application. you might like to say that, after five centuries, the bell foundry is an integral part of the historical identity of whitechapel and that, as well as being a major tourist attraction, it is an important local employer that maintains skills which could easily be lost .
my son is 2 years old and obsessed with church bells. we have been to see our local bell ringers (christ church cathedral in victoria, bc canada) and have watched videos of the whitechapel bell foundry many times. he can talk all about pouring hot metal into molds to make bells .
ben kipling, a bell tuner, tests the pitch of a bell destined for the church of st magnus the martyr in 2009 .
lma would like to thank alan and kathryn hughes, directors and their staff at whitechapel bell foundry for their assistance with the deposit. lma looks forward to the future partnership to catalogue and make fully available this outstanding archive to future users .
in 2012 the prince of wales sounded a bell named after him at the foundry, one of eight made for the thames diamond jubilee pageant .
the foundry’s main business is the bell founding and manufacture of church bells and their fittings and accessories, although it also provides single tolling bells, carillon bells and handbells. the foundry is notable for being the original manufacturer of the liberty bell, a famous symbol of united states independence .
the bell was ordered in 1751 and was delivered in 1752. like big ben, however, the bell cracked. the philadelphia assembly tried to return the bell on the ship that had brought it from england, however this wasn’t possible and two local craftsmen recast the bell .
we the undersigned wish to register our very serious concerns about the imminent loss of the whitechapel bell foundry in london. we are calling on historic england to ensure the buildings are listed at grade i, in recognition of their national and international significance .
bells have been made continuously in whitechapel since the 1570s. the business has been on its present site since the mid 1740s. it is one of just two remaining bell foundries in britain, and the foundry is reportedly the oldest manufacturing company in the uk. this is the foundry that made big ben in 1858, the world famous us liberty bell and many many more. the foundry is set to close at the end of march, and its contents sold at auction .
i am the proud owner of a handbell from the whitechapel bell foundry which is inscribed with my name and dates of service with the metropolitan police. it is a tradition that retiring officers from east london are presented with a bell on their retirement. it’s a very prized possession and i’m so sad to read this news .
side view of the grade ii - listed foundry. photograph: alamy stock photo
this panel of the bell founder’s window depicts the founder forming a wax ‘false bell’, in the exact shape of the bell he is going to cast. when the mould is completed, the wax will be melted out leaving a void into which the molten bell metal can be poured .
britain’s oldest manufacturing business, a london bell foundry that made big ben, could be sold after its owner decided to vacate its historic east end premises .
in 1752 the foundry cast the liberty bell, which was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of william penn’s 1701 charter of privileges, pennsylvania’s original constitution .
“it’s being the whitechapel bell foundry. it’s got quite a record and we’re very privileged to be the ones who are temporarily in charge of it, ” she says, “this place has a personality and we survive because the quality of work is good. ”
another of the world' s most famous bells, the liberty bell - which is on permanent display in philadelphia - was cast at whitechapel over 250 years ago... .
i am so sorry to hear about the closure of this bell foundry. i feel privileged that i was able to visit the foundry about three years ago and it remains in my memory one of the outstanding visits i have made anywhere .
over the centuries, a great many famous and notable bells have been cast at the whitechapel bell foundry. listed below are details of just a few of these, with links to longer entries on some of them. this list will be extended in the future .
in 1752, the foundry cast the liberty bell for the city of philadelphia, which became a symbol of us independence. in 1856, it made big ben, although the bell cracked while being tested and was recast in 1858 .
i am a bell - ringer in auckland, new zealand in st matthew’s in the city. our set of 8 bells was originally founded by john warner and sons in 1862 in spitalfields, but they were restored at whitechapel foundry in 1971. our bells are known as bishop selwyn’s bells, as he was responsible for originally bringing them to new zealand. the closing of whitechapel foundry has a special connection to us. i’m very sorry to see it go .
we have made this decision with a heavy heart, but in response to the changing realities of running a business of this kind. the bell foundry in whitechapel has changed hands many times, but it has always been a family business ,
mr hughes said .
the foundry’s owners are considering a sale that could keep it operating from new premises .
old bells on the floor at the foundry, which can be recycled and recast .
royal eijsbouts has been involved in extensive research programs in campanology (the art of bell manufacturing) for decades. those efforts have resulted in computer applications with which all aspects of bell sound and bell shape can be accurately calculated .
survey of london whitechapel is supported by the arts and humanities research council and is based at university college london .
founded in 1570, whitechapel bell foundry is the oldest manufacturing business still in operation in the united kingdom. the historic foundry in whitechapel closed in june 2017. in preparation for the firm’s move, london metropolitan archives worked in partnership with the company to safeguard its rich business archives and the records are now safely deposited at lma. richard wiltshire outlines the history of the firm, highlights from the collection and transfer process, and future plans to provide access to this outstanding collection .
the bells were cast by the famous whitechapel bell foundry in london, the maker of many notable bells including the liberty bell and big ben. the bells were hung by willian theobold master bell hanger for whitechapel. the bells were dedicated by bishop lyman ogilby on june 8, 1980. on april 6, 2002 the bellsí original clappers were replaced with new ones cast by eayre and smith of london, with the work being carried out by members of the philadelphia guild of change ringers. to see pictures of the clapper installation, click here .
the bell founder’s window in the north nave aisle of york minster is a unique mediaeval depiction of the craft of casting a bell. it was given to the minster by richard tunnoc, a york bell founder who died in 1330 .
because of the complex shape of a bell, when it is sounded we hear a combination of notes which come from different parts of the bell vibrating at different frequencies. these ‘partial tones’ combine to give the bell its characteristic tone .
an improvement came with the application of lathe technology to bell tuning. this engraving shows the tuning machine employed by the rudhall foundry in gloucester. the machine was later moved to whitechapel when the gloucester firm was taken over. note that unlike modern boring mills, the cutting tool revolved around the bell, rather than the bell around the tool. the machine was originally powered by a donkey, but was later converted to steam power .
we are particularly pleased that the very last tower bell to be cast at the whitechapel site is for the museum of london, to which the foundry is donating many artefacts including old machinery, items to provide a display about bell manufacture and items that the foundry has in its possession pertaining to the making of big ben. this will ensure a lasting legacy for the public to visit and enjoy when the museum moves to its new home in smithfield .
more recently, the whitechapel team designed the bell used at the start of the 2012 london olympics but the 23 - tonne structure was too big for its furnaces and was cast in the netherlands .
in 1758 dunstan was again cracked by tolling with a hammer. a futile attempt to mend the crack with solder was to no avail and the bell was recast by lester & pack of whitechapel in 1762. the recasting was done within the precincts on the morning of 3rd october by william chapman, then foreman, one of the onlookers being a young resident of the city, william mears, who after serving an apprenticeship took over the bellfoundry at whitechapel in 1784. the exact weight of the new bell remained uncertain but after it was taken to the whitechapel foundry in 1981 for tuning it was declared to be over 62 cwt, making it still the largest bell in kent .
i remember a bell being cast to be hung in the school hall as part of a special anniversary and the pride and pleasure staff and children felt both as members of a historic school and that the bell had been made at ‘our’ local foundry .
the grade ii - listed building in whitechapel, where it has been based since 1738, has already been sold .
the government should only invest in projects which give genuine benefit to all. this means the funding for refurbishing the palace of westminster should be allocated to the bell foundry .
even if demand were higher, the whitechapel foundry is located smack in the middle of one of london' s hottest neighborhoods. that' s another rule of modern life: prime real estate tops history .
on the final day of the foundry all the bells in london should ring in salute .
workers at the foundry making bells for the new national cathedral in washington dc in 1964 .
george mears, then the master bellfounder and owner of the whitechapel bell foundry, undertook the casting. according to foundry records, mears originally quoted a price of £2401 for casting the bell, but this was offset to the sum of £1829 by the metal he was able to reclaim from the first bell so that the actual invoice tendered, on 28th may 1858, was in the sum of £572. it took a week to break up the old bell, three furnaces were required to melt the metal, and the mould was heated all day before the actual casting, the first time this had been done in british bell - founding. it took 20 minutes to fill the mould with molten metal, and 20 days for the metal to solidify and cool. after the bell had been tested in every way by mears, denison approved it before it left the foundry .
the heaviest harmonically tuned bell in the world is the bourdon bell of the laura spelman rockefeller memorial carillon, in the riverside church, new york city. weighing 18 tonnes, this bell was cast in 1928 by gillett and johnston of croydon .
thanks for the reply mike. i think almost certainly (for the reasons you mention and also the risk of fire), that the foundry great dunmow purchased its bells from was somewhere in the east of london. however, interestingly the accounts consistently state ‘london’ whenever the bell foundry is mentioned (and there’s nearly an entire page of entries regarding the bell). was whitechapel known as ‘london’ by the late 1520s? could there have been bell foundry within the city walls? but because of the noise, smell and risk of fire, this seems unlikely. i guess we’ll never know but, nevertheless, very interesting to speculate !
this is extremely sad news which we only heard today. it is perhaps more remarkable that such heavy manufacturing industry carried on at this site for so long: the bell foundry can with apparent justification claim to be london’s longest - established manufacturing firm. the survey of london is working on a big whitechapel history project and we have had very kind assistance from alan hughes in doing our research on the foundry, some of which, along with photographs, plans and pieces of film, including an interview with alan, is on our interactive whitechapel map – urltoken to which you can also contribute memories and photos of whitechapel .
whitechapel bell foundry appeared in my book ” living national treasures” published in 1997, desparately sad news that this ancient and magnificent business is to close. i recall danny matholus explaining the skills and technique of making bells essentially unchanged since the fifteenth century. surely these unique skills must not die .
today, the liberty bell hangs on display in the liberty bell pavilion, opposite independence hall in philadelphia, and is still gently rung on 4th july each year .
telling whether or not an old bell was made by this foundry is not as obvious as you might imagine. over its half - millennium or more of existence the foundry has operated under several names. more often than not, these have been the name of the bellfounder who owned it at that time. the name' whitechapel bell foundry ltd' did not come into use until the company was incorporated in 1968. immediately prior to this, the foundry had traded as' mears and stainbank'. nor can you necessarily expect to identify an old whitechapel bell by the presence of the' sign of the three bells', the foundry stamp that dates back to robert mot in the 16th century. this was used on our bells for around 130 years before being dropped when richard phelps took over in 1700. it was not revived until arthur hughes bought the business in 1904, though it has appeared on all our bells since that time .
because of the nature of the bell business, the foundry doesn’t have the returning custom that most retailers do. as kathryn puts it, “the bells go on forever. ”
i put the foundry on our ‘bucket list’ for when he’s older and we can visit london. i hope we can see the foundry in action, or at the very least preserved .
i am sure the foundry can be saved, not for big bell manufacture. above all the ‘whitechapel foundry’ brand must be saved this is value added for a future project. the site could be owned / controlled by a consortium of bespoke artisans, with a small area for speciality foundry work. ! yes it has to be a great tourist attraction with big sales here london auth / tourist board please take note. the site has great possibilities, of course it is of great historic value. see my previous blog here under ‘so long whitechapel ‘ dec 2 2016 some issues raised there. poet john
items for sale the 2014 ringing roadshow whitechapel becomes malmark uk representative new online shop the olympic bell all the bells the diamond jubilee, a royal visit, and a summer of bells ovingham - church of st. mary the virgin ecclesfield - church of st. mary whitechapel in the snow the whitechapel trophy wolsey' s bells royal visit three recent installations (stanion, londal castle, harefield) the 2008 ringing roadshow big ben - the 150th anniversary quebec: holy trinity government seeks whitechapel help new cathedral ring for alabama wbf wins best family business award whitechapel and a passion for churches report on 2005 ringing roadshow three decades of charlie smith ringing at the royal northern 100 years of the hughes family at wbf lord mayor opens wbf shop extension report on ringing roadshow, 2003 ringing roadshow, 2003 new york: the 9 - 11 bell dedication the 1881 libel case casting the 9 - 11 bell another liberty bell a big wheel open day 2001 (with photos) historic finds at the foundry open day 2000 (with photos) masham and the millennium
the crack and the subsequent repair work gives big ben its present distinctive tone. a profile template of big ben surrounds the entrance door of the whitechapel foundry, while the original molding gauge is retained near the furnaces .
the liberty bell is probably one of the best known bells in the world. it was originally cast in 1752 at the whitechapel bell foundry, london, by thomas lester to commemorate the 50th year of the existence of the state of pennsylvania. after a stormy, eleven - week atlantic crossing, it was cracked whilst being hung and tested in the tower of the philadelphia state house .
the oldest bell hung for change ringing and still in regular use sunday by sunday, is thought to be the fifth bell at st dunstan’s church, canterbury, kent. it was cast in about 1325 by william le belyetere, a local bell founder .
he mould for big ben still hangs on the wall of the foundry, it was the largest bell ever cast by the firm in 1858, weighing 13 and a half tonnes .
the bells at the national cathedral in washington will no doubt be around for a long time. not so the foundry that cast some of them, however. turns out, it' s that very foundry for which the closing bell tolls. jim axelrod has an appreciation :
i’m sure that this must be the bell foundry in london which the church in great dunmow, (north essex) commissioned to build their new church bells between the years 1527 - 9 (during the reign of henry viii). great dunmow’s churchwarden accounts have survived and these accounts detail a parish - wide collection with every house - hold in the town contributing money for the new bells – 153 household contributed a total of £7 0s 7d. after the collection for the bells, the accounts record a great flurry of activity when the churchwardens and local elite went back and forth to the bell - foundry in london to inspect the casting of their new bell. unfortunately, the accounts do not specify the precise location of the bell foundry but there can’t have been too many of them at this time. i would like to think that it was the whitechapel bell foundry but i expect we will never find concrete prove of this .
the continued life of the foundry as a place for design and making is an admirable undertaking .
as a result of damage sustained during its stormy passage across the atlantic, the bell cracked in 1846 when it was first rung to mark the birthday of george washington. since 2003, the bell has been housed at the liberty bell center near independence hall .
one final point of interest is that the transcript mentions the lawyer for the foundry using a small model to demonstrate the principles of bell - casting. this would almost certainly have been the same small, exquisitely crafted model currently on display in the foundry' s lobby museum area .
the loss of the whitechapel foundry is and will be not only a complete travesty to spitalfields but the the nation as a whole, every effort should be made to save this world famous foundry who’s bells chime throughout the world, not only the loss of the foundry but the great skill of those who work in its buildings, who will pass on the knowledge once it’s gone? will ours and the worlds bells for silent? yes there are other foundrys people may say but, each foundry has an unquie quality a distinct sound that simply cannot be replicated by an other, saveing this foundry is not only helping to save a skill a group of buildings, its saving a tradition a heritage a history, that is known throughout the world, put simply whitechapel foundry is an important asset to heritage and skills of a craft that needs to be passed on to ensure our bells chime on. save this foundry invest in skills and craftsmanship
the foundry has cast many famous bells, including london’s big ben, the liberty bell in philadelphia, and for st mary’s cathedral in sydney and the us national cathedral in washington dc .
besides bell casting, royal eijsbouts also manufactures custom made tower clocks and astronomical clocks of any size. they also operate an art foundry, using several techniques to cast sculptures and statues .
the tradition of english handbell ringing in america was built on whitechapel handbells (originally for change ringing) known to have been sent from whitechapel was given to miss margaret h nicholls (later mrs margaret schurcliff) by arthur hughes, general manager of the whitechapel bell foundry, in 1902 after she had successfully rung two handbell peals on a trip to england from boston. the later progression to tune ringing was followed by the the forming of the new england guild of handbell ringers in 1937, and by the agehr (the american guild of english handbell ringers) in 1954 .
whitechapel bell foundry was founded in 1570 and is the oldest manufacturing business still in operation in the united kingdom. earlier origins have been traced by historian george elphick back to master founder robert chamberlain in the city of london in the 1420s. the firm moved to whitechapel high street in circa 1583 under robert mot (founder from 1574 to 1606). in 1740s the business expanded with new foundry premises built for the master founder thomas lester which still stand today. lester, pack and chapman were later succeeded by four generations of the mears family who were master founders between 1781 and 1865. in 1865 george mears retired and was succeeded by robert stainbank operating the company under the name of mears and stainbank which continued through the twentieth century until 1968. in the 1880s alfred silva lawson, member of the skinners’ company acquired the foundry taking great interest in the historical work of the business compiling research on bells made and adopting robert mot' s three - bell stamp as the firm' s trademark. lawson was succeeded by arthur hughes (1860 - 1916) in 1904. hughes was a ringer as well as a founder and joined the college youths in 1883, becoming master in 1907. in 1968 the manufacturing company was registered as whitechapel bell foundry limited. arthur hughes’ great grandson, alan hughes, with his wife kathryn, continue to manage the company as directors. the foundry site was handed over on 12 june 2017 to a development company. the production of bells continues outside whitechapel. for details of the decision to close the site and future plans visit the whitechapel bell foundry website .
done. i sent an email (with my postal address) to mr greeno citing the fact that when i took 5 family members to the foundry for a tour two years ago, we also had lunch locally, paid for an exhibition at the whitechapel gallery, made small purchases at independent shops and finshed the outing with cake / coffee in whitechapel. the foundry was directly responsible for six adults spending cash in the local area that day. and of course, it was would a cultural and economic loss to the area were the foundry to close .
thank you for getting in touch. we have altered the picture caption to reflect your valuable information. you may be interested to see the survey of london’s ‘histories of whitechapel’ website (urltoken). we very much welcome contributions, such as photographs and memories, and would be delighted if you would like to add content to the website. you can find whitechapel bell foundry on the website here: urltoken map / feature / 155 / detail. many thanks for your time and please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like more information about our research in whitechapel.
the whitechapel bell foundry was a business in the london borough of tower hamlets , and , at the time of the closure of the whitechapel premises , was the oldest manufacturing company in great britain . the bell foundry primarily made church bells and their fittings and accessories , although it also provided single tolling bells , carillon bells and handbells . the foundry was notable for being the original manufacturer of the liberty bell , a famous non-religious symbol of united states independence , and big ben which rings from the north clock tower at the houses of parliament in london . the whitechapel premises are a grade ii * listed building . the foundry closed in may 2017 , after nearly 450 years of bell making and 250 years at its whitechapel site , with the final bell cast given to the museum of london along with other artefacts used in the manufacturing process , and the building has been sold . following the sale of the whitechapel bell foundry , the bell patents were sold to the bell-hanging company , whites of appleton in oxfordshire , with whom the foundry has had a business relationship for 197 years , and rights to tower bell production are now under the ownership of westley group ltd . production of presentation and hand bells will continue under the name bells of whitechapel ltd .
the whitechapel bell foundry was a business in the london borough of tower hamlets, and, at the time of the closure of the whitechapel premises, was the oldest manufacturing company in great britain. the bell foundry primarily made church bells and their fittings and accessories, although it also provided single tolling bells, carillon bells and handbells. the foundry was notable for being the original manufacturer of the liberty bell, a famous non-religious symbol of united states independence, and big ben which rings from the north clock tower at the houses of parliament in london. the whitechapel premises are a grade ii * listed building. the foundry closed in may 2017, after nearly 450 years of bell making and 250 years at its whitechapel site, with the final bell cast given to the museum of london along with other artefacts used in the manufacturing process, and the building has been sold. following the sale of the whitechapel bell foundry, the bell patents were sold to the bell-hanging company, whites of appleton in oxfordshire, with whom the foundry has had a business relationship for 197 years, and rights to tower bell production are now under the ownership of westley group ltd. production of presentation and hand bells will continue under the name bells of whitechapel ltd.
the whitechapel bell foundry was a business in the london borough of tower hamlets, and, at the time of the closure of the whitechapel premises, was the oldest manufacturing company in great britain. the bell foundry primarily made church bells and their fittings and accessories, although it also provided single tolling bells, carillon bells and handbells. the foundry was notable for being the original manufacturer of the liberty bell, a famous non-religious symbol of united states independence, and big ben which rings from the north clock tower at the houses of parliament in london. the whitechapel premises are a grade ii * listed building. the foundry closed in may 2017, after nearly 450 years of bell making and 250 years at its whitechapel site, with the final bell cast given to the museum of london along with other artefacts used in the manufacturing process, and the building has been sold. following the sale of the whitechapel bell foundry, the bell patents were sold to the bell-hanging company, whites of appleton in oxfordshire, with whom the foundry has had a business relationship for 197 years, and rights to tower bell production are now under the ownership of westley group ltd. production of presentation and hand bells will continue under the name bells of whitechapel ltd.