Bell foundries “The world’s most famous Whitechapel’s “Big Ben” bell in the clock tower of the bell foundry” Palace of Westminster, London By Brian Swager he Whitechapel Bell Foundry in Lon- have been made by the foundry since 1570, Raycliff, an American venture capitalist T don, England, is a cultural heritage and on the current site on the corner of firm, purchased the foundry. Raycliff Whi- asset of international significance. However, Whitechapel Road and Plumber’s Row since techapel LLP has submitted a planning it is at grave risk of being renovated into a the 1740s. The Whitechapel Bell Foundry application that seeks to secure a change of “bell-themed” boutique hotel and café rather adopted its current name in 1968, but the use and development of the site as a 100-bed than being retained as a fully working bell same purpose-built foundry has been occu- hotel, private members’ club, restaurant, foundry on the site that was developed for pied by generations of bell makers—Phelps bar, café, and shop, with desk-sharing work- this purpose in the 1740s. If this is allowed to and Lester, Lester and Pack, Pack and spaces for hire. The on-site foundry outlined happen, the bell founding skills on this his- Chapman, Chapman and Mears, Mears and in the Raycliff Whitechapel proposal has toric site in the East End of London will be Stainbank, Alfred Lawson, and since 1904 been reduced dramatically, and all that lost to the nation forever, bringing an end to several generations of the Hughes family— remains is a token activity—a small display a continuous history of bell casting covering with knowledge passing from one generation workshop and studio for casting or finishing the last 450 years. This is a matter of national to the next, each of them forming a part of handbells within a restaurant and café. and international importance. this extraordinary history. In November 2019, the Tower Ham- For the last few years I have read Located in the Borough of Tower Ham- lets Development Committee approved reports of the imminent closure of the lets in the heart of London, the renowned the developer’s planning application. In firm. However, a Public Inquiry called by foundry is Britain’s oldest single-purpose December of last year, in response to the Secretary of State has been scheduled industrial building. The bells cast here are public pressure, the Secretary of State, for October 2020, offering real hope of the voices of nations: they mark the world’s Robert Jenrick, issued a holding declara- saving the foundry. The UK Historic Build- celebrations and sorrows, representing tion preventing Tower Hamlets Council ing Preservation Trust—whose founding principles of emancipation, freedom of from proceeding and granting planning patron was HRH The Prince of Wales and expression, and justice. Both Big Ben and permission. The planning application has is now called Re-Form Heritage—launched the Liberty Bell were cast on this site. now been “called in,” and a public inquiry a joint appeal with the Factum Foundation In June 2017, the historic Whitechapel will be held on October 6, 2020, lasting for for Digital Technology in Conservation to Foundry was sold to a developer, and the about one week. This gives the opportunity save the foundry. The many objectors, of use of these Grade 2* buildings for the for a fair and proper hearing with legal which there were nearly 26,000, believe making of bells ceased. Grade 2* is a clas- representation. strongly that the site of the Whitechapel sification of a UK building that is “partic- Bell Foundry should be a place of pilgrim- ularly important . of more than special A foundry of worldwide stature age, preserving this important heritage. I interest.” Although the foundry had been The foundry in Whitechapel has supplied contacted Adam Lowe, director of the Fac- listed for its historic connection to the East a striking array of bells to churches around tum Foundation, who has supplied much of End’s industrial past and despite campaigns the globe as well as a number of significant the information for this article. in the national press and emotional public and well-known installations. In addition to Whitechapel bells hold an enviable place outcry, it was shut down by the owners who the Liberty Bell and Big Ben, the foundry in English history. The first recorded bells wanted to take advantage of the enormous has produced several other bells of national to have been cast in London were made in increase in its financial value by selling it for significance. Near the White House, in Whitechapel in the thirteenth century; bells conversion into a hotel. the Old Post Office and Clock Tower in Bell foundries The Cellini Bell was recorded by Factum Foundation’s expert, using close-range photo- 3-D rendering of the Cellini Bell (photo cour- grammetry, at the British Museum in 2018 (photo credit: Otto Lowe) tesy: Factum Foundation for the British Museum) Washington, D.C., is a ring of ten pealing least sixty-two sets to the United States. specializing in the production of bells and bells, used for change ringing, called “The Several of their chimes were later enlarged works of art, together with a 3-D and acous- Bells of Congress.” Cast by Whitechapel in to carillons. Fifty-eight of the seventy-four tic archive and research center that will 1976, the bells range in weight from 581 to bells in the Laura Spelman Rockefeller conduct bell recording, undertake research 2,953 pounds. Another Whitechapel ring of Memorial Carillon in the Riverside Church into historic casting methods, and develop ten bells hangs in the tower of the Wash- in New York City were recast or replaced by machine learning predictive software to ington National Cathedral. Cast by Mears Whitechapel in 2003. It is no wonder that assist in the preservation of bells around the & Stainbank in 1962, the bells range from their website proclaimed: “the world’s most country and beyond. 608 to 3,588 pounds. famous bell foundry.” There is a clear need for such services. Commissioned and cast for the 2012 The business owner Alan Hughes cited Maintaining and re-making bells for London Olympic Games, the Olympic Bell financial difficulties with maintenance of churches is a relatively contained market in is the largest harmonically-tuned bell in the the building in the current economic cli- Europe and North America, but it serves an world. It was designed by Whitechapel, but mate. “The future of bell making is bright” important social and preservation function. due to its excessive size (22.91 tons, 10.95 maintains Adam Lowe of the Factum By contrast, there is a significant market feet in diameter), it was cast at the Royal Foundation. He notes that churches are no for commemorative bells of all sizes and for Eijsbouts foundry in the Netherlands. It longer the main commissioners of bells, yet bell-related artist projects. Internationally, bears an inscription taken from Shake- the market is diversifying, and new oppor- Russia, Africa, and South America have been speare’s play The Tempest: “Be not afeard; tunities exist around the world. Likewise, identified as expanding markets for church the isle is full of noises.” technological advances must be applied bells, while China and India have a large and In celebration of the 1976 United States that would bring the foundry into the twen- growing demand for bells and gongs. Bicentennial, the people of Britain gifted ty-first century. Technology has the potential to revitalize the people of this country with a 12,446- bell making in Whitechapel. Three-dimen- pound Bicentennial Bell cast by Whitecha- A viable future for the foundry sional recording, digital modeling, machine pel. It was dedicated by Her Majesty Queen Re-Form Heritage and the Factum learning analysis, and the use of software to Elizabeth II who shared her gratitude to Foundation have led the opposition to predict and control shrinkage, flow, thick- America’s Founding Fathers for teaching the redevelopment plans. Together with ness, and shape are all part of this future. the British “to respect the right of others to the local community, former employees of The new foundry will also be eco-friendly, govern themselves in their own way.” the bell foundry, the Victoria and Albert filtering emissions and recycling heat. As Various chimes and rings made in Whi- Museum, B-Made (Bartlett Manufacturing has been demonstrated by Peter Scully, techapel were sent to places near and far & Design Exchange—a multidisciplinary there are no issues with casting bells safely beyond England’s borders including Wales, center that aims to foster the next gener- in London in a workshop that meets health Scotland, Zimbabwe, South Africa, India, ation of thinkers, designers, and makers), and safety and the most challenging sus- Trinidad, Malawi, Sudan, and Jamaica. No University College London, the East Lon- tainability legislation: in December 2019, less than twenty-three sets of Whitechapel don Mosque, artists, and others, they are Scully and assistants at B-Made cast three bells made their way to Canada, forty-four proposing a viable future answering local bells in front of a group of journalists and to Australia, four to New Zealand, and at and international needs: a working foundry supporters using ceramic shell investment Bell foundries molding and a new efficient electric kiln; glare from the object. The two models were the result was an unmitigated success. then combined, resulting in a 3-D model with 91.5 million polygons. This was then Historical research leading to 3-D printed and silver plated, resulting in technological advances an exact facsimile that is now on permanent The scene of bell making in Andrei Tar- display at Strawberry Hill House.