Loughborough: Work to save historic bell foundry in second phase

The foundry uses traditional techniques and its bells are used all over the world

Work to save the last, purpose-built bell foundry in Britain has moved into its second phase.

John Taylor & Co has been at the same site in Loughborough, Leicestershire, since 1859 - but can trace its heritage back to the 14th Century.

The project, in Freehold Street, is being supported by £835,000 and will cost more than £5m in total.

The second stage of the project includes upgrades to the boardroom, historic entrance and landscaping.

The money - from the government's Towns Fund - is to protect and enhance the Grade II* listed buildings and on-site museum.

Once complete, the site will include a new bell museum, with increased and improved access, interpretation, and educational facilities, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

Following the works, the bell foundry will also be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register, ensuring the future of the industry, which is currently considered "critically endangered".

The site has cast more than 25,000 bells that are hung in more than 100 countries, including the largest church bell in Britain, Great Paul, which hangs in St Paul's Cathedral.

Its work has even entered popular culture. The bells from St Thomas's Church, on Fifth Avenue in New York, heard on The Pogues's and Kirsty McColl's Christmas anthem Fairytale of New York, were cast at the foundry.

The Victorian buildings have been in need of repair for some time

In June 2021, the government confirmed Loughborough had successfully secured an offer of £16.9m, to be spent on a variety of projects. In 2020, the project already secured £3.5m of National Lottery funding.

The second phase of the project started this year, which will see an upgrade to the boardroom, the original historic entrance to the site, and the Carillon Courtyard will be re-landscaped.

The existing museum is currently closed for the works, however tours that are still ongoing will include the manufacturing spaces but not the museum spaces.

The money will also go towards training and educational programmes