Whitechapel Bell Foundry

The Bell Foundry Whitechapel Bell Foundry was established in 1670 and followed on farms which produced bells since the 15th century on the Whitechapel Road in the East End of London. It is considered the oldest bell foundry in England. The company was from the 19th century until 1968 the name Mears & Stainbank and subsequently traded as Foundry Whitechapel.

The company has since the beginning of the 20th century owned by the Hughes family. Head of the company is Kathryn Hughes. The manufactory is in addition to bells also manufactures chimes, carillons and hand bells.

Whitechapel produced some famous bells like the Liberty Bell ( independence bell), cast in 1752 for the Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and its successor, the bicentennial anniversary of Independence of the United States in 1976. The big bell Big Ben to the Tower of the Palace of Westminster was built in 1858 and is the largest ever cast in Whitechapel bell with more than 13 tons of weight. After the Second World War, the foundry provided, among other bells for the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and for the Liverpool Cathedral.

Swell

• Marcus Theurer: The chime of eternity; in: FAZ December 24, 2013, p 15