John Taylor Bellfounders continues a line of bellfounding which has been unbroken since the middle of the 14th Century, when Johannes de Stafford was active only 10 miles from the site of the present foundry.
Since 1784 the business has been in the hands of the Taylor family. In 1839 the business settled in Loughborough and is now proud to operate the largest bellfoundry in the world.
The largest bell in Britain, "Great Paul", the massive Bourdon bell at St Paul's Cathedral in London, was cast in Loughborough in 1881, weight 17,002 kgs, 37,483 pounds. Centuries of experience, together with up to the minute advances in technology, has put Taylors at the forefront in the design and manufacture of bells, their fittings and frameworks for all methods of sounding bells.
In the middle of Loughborough Leicestershire stands the Carillon. A memorial to the men of the town killed in the great war and the second world war. Atop the 200 ft high tower sits a cradle which holds 47 bells.
The largest bell in the tower is the Denison Bell the inscription on which reads :-
In proud and loving memory of his three nephews killed in action in France , John William Taylor , Courcelette , 1916 ; Gerald Bardsley Taylor , St Quentin 1918 ; Arnold Bradley Taylor , Contalmaison , 1916 ; sons of John William Taylor (1853 - 1919) , Grandsons of John William Taylor (1827 - 1906) , Edmund Denison Taylor the founder of these bells gives this the largest 1923.
It was this bell which was recorded in the summer of 1980 by Tony Platt on the manor mobile. 24 microphones surrounded the bell to record its chime.
The Denison bell is a 4 tonne bell which was made by J. Taylor & sons (bellfounders co). The bell which is taken on tour by AC/DC is only a one and a half tonne replica of the Denison.
The Denison bell was number 26 on a series of beer mats titled 'other famous bells' which was issued by Bells whiskey.
Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:56 am