How Bells are Made
Bells and their Fittings are made by hand using traditional crafts.
Casting Bells Today
Bells are made of Bell Metal, a type of bronze made from approximately 77% copper and 23% tin, and are cast in a bellfoundry.
Bell Casting History
The earliest bells were cast locally, often in the churchyard or nearby field, with the casting being a huge local community celebration.
This is why there are many pubs called ‘The Bell’ or ‘The Ring of Bells’ or similar, and other local names such as ‘Bell Lane’ or ‘Bell Field’.
There were many bellfoundries and local bellfounders across the UK, such as the Heathcote family in Chesterfield, which cast bells between 1525 and 1623.
As transport became easier, the number of bellfoundries reduced.
Journey of a Bell inside a Bellfoundry
35 mins long (there is a small glitch at 13m24s, but keep watching).
Look inside Loughborough Bellfoundry
Taylor’s Bellfoundry at Loughborough is now the largest bellfoundry in the UK, and is open to the public!
It’s close enough to Derbyshire to make a fabulous day out.
Click here to find out more and book your visit.
Hanging Bells in a Tower
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