Taylor's Bellfoundry, Loughborough

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.

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.

20/05/2026

Ever wondered how a bell core is made?

19/05/2026

Slag, that’s a funny word! But it is genuinely the term for unwanted impurities ontop of the molten metal!

What do you think? ⬇️

17/05/2026

40 years of preserving and sharing the story of bellmaking.

These photos take us back through the decades — from the original museum leaflet and newspaper coverage when the museum first opened, to celebrations marking its 25th anniversary.

Two years ago, the museum was lovingly renovated and reopened, beginning a new chapter in its history — and we were delighted when it later received an award recognising the project.

Four decades on, the museum is still going strong, welcoming visitors from around the world and helping to keep the traditions, skills and stories of bellfounding alive for future generations.

Here’s to the past, present and future of the museum. 🔔

https://belltrust.co.uk/

15/05/2026

We’re delighted to announce that work is now underway at Manchester Cathedral, a beautiful Grade I listed building at the heart of the city.

The western tower houses a 27 cwt ring of ten bells cast and installed by Gillett & Johnston in 1925. As part of a major restoration and augmentation project, the bells, frame and fittings will be removed from the tower to allow extensive works to take place.

Three new bells will be cast to augment the ring to twelve, together with a sharp 2nd bell to provide a light ring of eight. A new cast iron and galvanised steel bell frame will be manufactured and installed slightly lower in the tower and, with the exception of the bell wheel centres, all new bell fittings will be made.

The project will also include new permanent lifting beams, a new automatic chiming system on all thirteen bells, a replacement belfry floor and a new sound control system.

This exciting project is now underway, and the bell fittings have already been stripped off in the tower.

We’re very excited to be involved in this important restoration project.

Further details can be found here:
Manchester Cathedral – Chime for Manchester Appeal