As a bell ringer the foundry has long been on my "To Visit" bucket list ... and recently finally... read more
As a bell ringer the foundry has long been on my "To Visit" bucket list ... and recently finally... read more
Our Dene Valley U3A run many different types of interest group, including ours which visits... read more
Very knowledgable staff, interesting exhibition well kept. Little jewel of English industrial history
Fifteen members of the Deepings U3A met at the Museum for a guided tour of the factory. It was a fascinating and enjoyable visit ably guided by John Mulvey. The museum consisted of a collection of memorabilia well documented showing the history of the foundry. (Note the largest Bell foundry in the world). There were a number of artifacts to interact with. The tour of the factory floor showed many and detailed processes for the both restoration of older bells and finishing of the newly cast ones. We saw in action many of the processes including lathe work, tuning, fettling and mould making. We were given information on Bell ringing and the installation of Bell towers and Carrilon bells
Have enquiried several times booking the tour and was lucky enough to get onto one with three bells being cast! The Museum part is interesting especially one gets to pick up a mallet & ring the bells (children will like this!) The talk by the tour leader is informative & packed with fun facts. The chance to see how the red, hot molten being tipped into ladle & poured into the moulds is fascinating! Not many foundries are left now & it is a good showcase of the industrial heritage for this country. Well worth a visit to see something different, even one is not crazy about bells!
14 of us (from Orpington U3A Industrial Archaeology group) booked a tour of the foundry - which, since the Whitechapel bellfoundry closed, is the only operating bellfoundry in England. Also, unlike Whitechapel, you see the working foundry - it's not just a museum of artifacts.
Our guide, Chris Birkby, was very knowledgeable and we saw the whole process in different parts of the foundry, from casting the bells to polishing and testing for tone. Absolutely fascinating. Definitely to be included in your itinerary if you like industrial heritage.
You must wear strong (not fabric) enclosed shoes eg trainers or boots
Went in quite a large group - which led to problems hearing the guide at times. But sa a very good DVD of the whole process, together with historical items, the foundry and the tuning area. Well worth a visit.
Fascinating tour showing how bells are cast and made including vital ingredients like manure. Including seeing a peel of bells at the end. Close to the Great Central Railway in Loughborough