Taylor's Bellfoundry, Loughborough

13/06/2026

A few recent photos from the foundry:

🔔 Great Urswick – the newly cast replacement 4th and 5th bells are being dispatched this week for hanging, completing the peal with an all-Taylor ring. The new 5th bell was cast and inscribed in memory of THOMAS METCALFE MBE, who received his honour for services to bellringing across the South Lakes and Lancashire area.

🔧 Manchester Cathedral – transportation steels being prepared for galvanising.

🔔 Manchester Cathedral – new headstocks.

⚙️ Manchester Cathedral – frame castings, including one casting in position on the shaping machine.

🔔 St John The Divine, Lytham – bells in the tuning shop awaiting their new resin pads.

⚙️ John Taylor bearing housings are highly regarded for their ability to fit into tight spaces on bellframes.

Always good to see projects progressing through the various stages of manufacture, restoration and installation 👌

09/06/2026

🔔 Exciting News from the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust! 🔔

We're delighted to announce the launch of our brand-new online shop!

Visit: https://shop.belltrust.co.uk/

Whether you're looking for a unique gift, a special keepsake, books, bell-themed items, or something to celebrate the rich heritage of bellfounding, you can now browse and shop from anywhere. The Bellfoundry Gift Shop is an important part of supporting our work to preserve and share the story of the historic John Taylor Bellfoundry and its collections for future generations.

We're just getting started, and we'll be adding new products regularly, so be sure to check back often to see what's new.

Every purchase helps support the ongoing conservation, education, and celebration work of the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust.

Thank you for your support, and happy shopping!

The Bellfoundry Gift Shop

08/06/2026

This is what a full prepped bell mould looks like 🔔

03/06/2026

Let’s go back through history 🔔

01/06/2026

Lytham, Lancashire – The Parish Church of St John the Divine

The 10 cwt ring of six bells at St John the Divine has called worshippers and marked special occasions in Lytham since 1875. Cast by Mears & Stainbank, the bells were last rehung by Eayre & Smith in 1992 in their original two-tier oak frame.

As part of a major restoration project, the entire installation is now being removed from the tower. A new two-tier cast iron bell frame, mounted on hardwood base timbers, will be made and installed, while all of the 1992 fittings are being carefully refurbished before the bells return home.

Progress so far:

✓ The bells have been lowered from the tower and were displayed in the church for a short time, giving visitors a rare chance to see them up close.

✓ The bells and their fittings have arrived safely in Loughborough, where work has begun on refurbishing the fittings.

✓ The bells have now been measured, an important step in preparing for the manufacture of the new frame and the next stages of the project.

We'll continue to share updates as this exciting restoration progresses.

31/05/2026

About our Tours About our Tours Discover more about the rich history of Taylor’s Bellfoundry, book a tour. Prev 1 2 3 Next Classic Tour & Museum Casting Tour & Museum Group Tours Classic Tour and Museum Bellfoundry Trust Tours Experience the magic of bellfounding at the UK's last working bellfound...

31/05/2026

🔔 Bells, Bridges, and Belonging from Saturday 6 June 2026 🔔

We are delighted to be hosting Ringing Through Time, a new immersive digital installation celebrating Loughborough's world-renowned bell-making heritage, from Saturday 6 June 2026.

For several years, Charnwood Arts has secured funding to deliver an annual Bell Festival, celebrating the unique heritage that makes Loughborough such a special place. Inspired by the town's historic bell foundry and the many bells found across the town, the festival explores the stories, traditions and communities connected to this remarkable legacy.

Created by One to One Development Trust in partnership with Charnwood Arts, this year's Bell Festival installation invites visitors to explore Loughborough's rich bell-making history through an engaging digital experience.

At its heart is an interactive bell that transforms as visitors journey through a timeline, weaving together film, archive material, contemporary art, poetry and an evocative soundtrack. Through this immersive experience, audiences can discover the stories, people and craftsmanship behind Loughborough's internationally recognised bell-making tradition.

Bells, Bridges, and Belonging: The Spirit of Loughborough's Past Inspiring the Future, invites visitors of all ages to explore the town's heritage in imaginative and inspiring ways.

If you would like to learn more about Loughborough's bell-making history, our regular Classic Bell Foundry Tours are running on the same day. The morning tour is now fully booked, but there are still a few places available on the afternoon tour.

📅 Opening at the museum on Saturday 6 June 2026

For tour information and bookings visit: www.belltrust.co.uk/tours

We hope to see you there!

About our Tours About our Tours Discover more about the rich history of Taylor’s Bellfoundry, book a tour. Prev 1 2 3 Next Classic Tour & Museum Casting Tour & Museum Group Tours Classic Tour and Museum Bellfoundry Trust Tours Experience the magic of bellfounding at the UK's last working bellfound...

28/05/2026

Church bells have been the voice of Britain’s communities for centuries — marking celebration, mourning, remembrance, and warning in times of danger. But today, the historic churches that house them face growing financial pressure from rising costs and the effective removal of VAT relief on repairs.

What does this mean not only for churches, but for Britain’s wider heritage, traditional crafts, and the future of bell ringing itself?

Our latest article explores why this matters far beyond church walls.

Read the full article below.

https://belltrust.co.uk/when-church-bells-fall-silent-the-growing-threat-to-britains-heritage/

Photographs courtesy of Tom Pollard Photography, https://tompollardphotography.com/

26/05/2026

A special moment at Elmley Castle for the first test ring of the bells 🔔🔔🔔

Great to hear them sounding out. Here’s a video from the occasion.