Taylor's Bellfoundry, Loughborough

Taylor's Bellfoundry, Loughborough Welcome to Taylor’s Bellfoundry — home of John Taylor & Co. For tours, the museum or archive enquiries, contact the Trust.

and the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust.

🔔 For bell renovation, casting or tower work, contact John Taylor & Co. Taylor’s Bellfoundry, Loughborough brings together John Taylor & Co, the UK’s last working bellfoundry, and the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust, which runs the museum and guided tours. General enquiries: +44 (0)1509 212241 | [email protected]

Museum & tours: belltrust.co.uk

Bell restoration: taylorbells.co.uk

31/08/2026

Take a look at the goings on the shop floor 👀

☕ A new addition to our online shop!We’ve just added this lovely new Taylor’s Bellfoundry word-cloud mug, made for us in...
27/08/2026

☕ A new addition to our online shop!

We’ve just added this lovely new Taylor’s Bellfoundry word-cloud mug, made for us in fine bone china by Buttercup China in Staffordshire.

The design celebrates the people, places and words that are part of the story of the last working bellfoundry in the UK - we love it!

🇬🇧 Made in Staffordshire
🔔 Inspired by Taylor’s Bellfoundry
☕ Fine bone china
🎁 A lovely gift for anyone interested in bells, bellringing or our industrial heritage

And there’s plenty more to discover in our online shop — from books and gifts to bell-themed treasures and items celebrating the remarkable history of Taylor’s.

Take a look and support the work of Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust.

🛍️ Visit our online shop https://shop.belltrust.co.uk/

🔔 Why do we bury our bells?It’s one of the most distinctive parts of the bell-casting process at John Taylor & Co. — and...
22/08/2026

🔔 Why do we bury our bells?

It’s one of the most distinctive parts of the bell-casting process at John Taylor & Co. — and something we’ve been doing this way for generations.

Before the molten bell metal is poured, the bell mould is carefully buried in the foundry floor, leaving the top — or mouth — of the mould above ground. This is where the molten metal is poured in.

But why bury it?

Burying the mould allows the molten bell metal to cool slowly after it is poured, with the compacted earth acting like a blanket to prevent rapid cooling.

We believe this slow cooling gives the bell a better molecular structure, helping it to produce a more resonant sound.

Once cast, the bell remains buried for several days to allow it to cool naturally before the mould is broken open and the newly cast bell is revealed.

It’s a traditional method — and one we still use today, just as Taylor’s has done for generations.

These photographs show the mould being buried in preparation for the pour. 🔔

🔔 A 100-year wait is nearly over…High in the tower of this beautiful Yorkshire church hangs a Taylor ring of three bells...
20/08/2026

🔔 A 100-year wait is nearly over…

High in the tower of this beautiful Yorkshire church hangs a Taylor ring of three bells, cast and installed in 1925.

The bells were installed in a frame built for six — with the original intention that the ring would one day be augmented.

Now, just over a century later, that vision is finally becoming reality.

Thanks to the generosity of a donor, three new treble bells will be cast at John Taylor & Co., with new fittings made for them. The bell metal itself has an interesting story: it is being donated by The Keltek Trust, from the former ring at Hunslet in Leeds.

Work begins in September, when the 1925 Taylor bellframe will be cleaned and painted in preparation for the new bells.

And then, in October 2026, the three new trebles are scheduled to be cast.

We’ll be relaying the story of the bells from this beautiful Grade II* listed building — from the preparation of the existing frame, through the casting of the new bells, and ultimately their journey home. 🔔

📍 Kilburn, North Yorkshire

The journey of the Manchester bells continues! 🔔You may remember the photographs of the bells being carefully lowered fr...
14/08/2026

The journey of the Manchester bells continues! 🔔

You may remember the photographs of the bells being carefully lowered from Manchester Cathedral’s tower, via the specially constructed platform, before being loaded onto the lorry we saw driving away from the cathedral.

These latest photographs show what happened next: their arrival here at the foundry, where Bill was on hand to unload them.

And yes, it all happened on the same day!

These existing bells will now be provided with new fittings and frames here at John Taylor & Co., ready for the next stage of their journey.

More to come… 🔔

A long journey home 🔔After months of planning, the bells have begun their journey to Loughborough.One by one, they were ...
09/08/2026

A long journey home 🔔

After months of planning, the bells have begun their journey to Loughborough.

One by one, they were carefully lowered from Manchester Cathedral and secured onto the lorry for the journey to John Taylor & Co., where they’ll continue their journey before their next chapter begins.

There’s something quite extraordinary about seeing these huge bells being lowered through the cathedral and then setting off together on the road.

And, after all that travelling, there’s still a little more to come…

We’ll share photos from their arrival back at the Bellfoundry later this week. 👀🔔

A wonderful visit to the Bellfoundry 🔔It was a pleasure to welcome a group of parishioners from All Saints Church, Mackw...
07/08/2026

A wonderful visit to the Bellfoundry 🔔

It was a pleasure to welcome a group of parishioners from All Saints Church, Mackworth, who came to visit us recently and discover more about the fascinating world of bellfounding.

The group enjoyed a tour around the Bellfoundry, seeing behind the scenes and learning more about the history, craft and skill that goes into making bells.

After their visit, Revd. Christine Dyer sent us a lovely message:

“It was an absolutely outstanding visit. Thank you again, and for looking after our bells so well.”

We’re so pleased you enjoyed your visit, Christine and everyone from All Saints — thank you for coming to see us! 🔔

A bell journey with a difference 🔔Things are looking a little different outside Manchester Cathedral as work gets underw...
05/08/2026

A bell journey with a difference 🔔

Things are looking a little different outside Manchester Cathedral as work gets underway to remove the bells from the tower.

A temporary platform has been erected alongside the Cathedral, allowing the bells to be carefully brought out through the louvre openings onto the scaffolding. From there, they’re lowered by lift onto a second platform, ready to be transferred onto a lorry and brought to Loughborough for refurbishment.

Here’s Nathan chatting to some passers-by and explaining exactly what’s happening — not something you see every day!

The Cathedral’s current ring consists of 10 bells. As part of the project, three new bells will also be cast — two trebles to complete the ring of 12, plus a sharp second semitone. This will give the Cathedral the flexibility to ring a lighter 8 or the full 12.

For now, it’s fascinating to watch the first stage of this major project unfold — and to see these historic bells begin their journey to Loughborough. 🔔

03/08/2026

When the bell gets hungry, we feed it 😉

🔔 Looking for something a little different to do this summer?Make a visit to Loughborough Bellfoundry part of your summe...
03/08/2026

🔔 Looking for something a little different to do this summer?

Make a visit to Loughborough Bellfoundry part of your summer plans and discover a working Victorian bellfoundry that’s unlike anywhere else.

Come on a Classic Tour and go behind the scenes to explore the foundry, see where bells are made and tuned, and discover the remarkable stories behind this historic site.

Or choose a Casting Tour and experience the heat, noise and spectacle of bell casting in action.

And don’t miss the Loughborough Bellfoundry Museum. Explore the history of bellfounding through our interactive display, and use our hammers to strike different bells and hear the fascinating differences in their tones. 🔨🔔

Tours take place throughout the summer holidays — book ahead to secure your place and avoid disappointment.

We’re also open on the first Saturday of each month, with our next Saturday opening on 5 September, with Classic Tours available in both the morning and afternoon.

Come and discover the world of bells this summer.

Address

Taylor's Bellfoundry, Freehold Street
Loughborough
LE111AR

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Website

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