John Taylor Bell Foundry (Loughborough) Limited, trading as John Taylor & Co and commonly known as Taylor's Bell Foundry, Taylor's of Loughborough, or simply Taylor's, is the world's largest working bell foundry. It is located in Loughborough, in the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. The business originated in the 14th century, and the Taylor family took over in 1784.
The company manufactures bells for use in clock towers, rings of bells for change ringing, chimes, and carillons. In 2005, Taylor's merged with Eayre & Smith Limited (bellhangers) and from 2005 until 2009 was known as Taylors Eayre & Smith Limited.Foundry Merger accessed 20 June 2007
In September 2009, Taylor's went into administration but was bought out of administration by a consortium named UK Bell Foundries Ltd, led by Andrew Wilby, which re-financed the business. Since then, the company has re-established its presence both in the UK and in export markets.
The foundry has a museum of bells and bellfounding, which is the only one of its kind in the UK. It is one of the few Victorian purpose-built manufacturing sites still being used for its original purpose. Its campanile contains the most-pealed bells in the world.
History
The present company is part of a line of bellfounders dating back to Johannes de Stafford in the 14th century, who was also a mayor of Leicester.Foundry History accessed 20 June 2007 The Taylor family became involved in 1784 with Robert Taylor (1759–1830), and a foundry was established in Loughborough in 1839 by his son John Taylor (1797–1858), moving to the current site in 1859. The Taylors also had foundries in Oxford and St Neots between 1786 and 1854.
During much of the later 19th century, the foundry was under the management of John William Taylor (1827–1906). Taylor's was the first bellfounder to adopt "true-harmonic" tuning in the late 19th century.The Sound of Bells accessed 20 June 2007 In 1963, Paul Taylor, last of the Taylor family in the business, appeared on the American TV panel show What's My Line?, challenging the panel with his occupation as a bell maker.Church Bell Maker Paul Taylor on What's My Line, clip on YouTube
The foundry is based in buildings on Freehold Street, which are Grade II* listed. The National Twelve Bell Contest is competed for annually by the leading teams in England for "The Taylor Trophy".
On 18 September 2009, the company went into administration."Bell foundry faces administration", BBC Leicestershire, 19 September 2009. Retrieved on 21 September 2009 Mazars, which had previously been acting as advisors to the company during attempts to secure extra funding, were appointed administrators.Largest bell foundry in administration—Mazars plans to sell business as going concern , Accountancy Magazine, 21 September 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009. On 2 October 2009, it was reported that the administrators were "optimistic about its future.""Hopes high for bell foundry bid", BBC Leicestershire, 2 October 2009. Retrieved on 16 October 2009. On 15 October 2009, in a statement released by UK Bell Foundries Ltd, a consortium of ringers, members of the bell industry and other investors, it was stated that the foundry would reopen on 19 October, reverting to the previous name of John Taylor & Co.John Taylor & Co Bellfounders Loughborough—We are open for business! (archive.org), Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers, 15 October 2009. Retrieved on 20 October 2009."Historic foundry's future secure", BBC News, 17 October 2009. Retrieved on 20 October 2009. Paul Taylor's widow, Mrs Merle Taylor, was honorary president of the new company until her death.
The board from 2015 to 2020 comprised Andrew W R Wilby (chairman and CEO), Laith R Reynolds, David E Potter, Michael J Semken, Simon E Adams, D Paul Mason and Andrew B Mills. In 2016, the directors of UK Bell Foundries Ltd founded the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust and transferred ownership of the buildings, equipment, intellectual property and the museum to that body in perpetuity to safeguard it for the future. The Trust received emergency grants to restore several parts of the building from Historic England, as it was listed as a Grade II* building at risk. Further restoration was planned.
In 2018, the company established a subsidiary called John Taylor International, based in Australia, to serve the southern hemisphere markets. At the end of 2020, Andrew Wilby resigned as director and CEO; David Potter also resigned as director. Andrew's son Michael Wilby was managing director from October 2019 to August 2021.
Notable bells and rings In 1881 at Loughborough, Taylor's cast "Great Paul" (the largest British cast bell in Britain) for St Paul's Cathedral in London, weighing or more than 17 metric tons. Rock band AC/DC used a 2000-pound cast bronze bell for the song "Hells Bells", which was originally used on the Back in Black Tour in 1980.
Many churches around the world have used bells cast at Taylor's bell foundry, including: +TowerLocationDetails of bells castLargest bell cast (kg)Year(s) of castingCommentsImage All Saints' Church, WestburyWestbury, Wiltshire, UK8 change ringing bells1,7841921Third heaviest ring of eight bells in the world hung for change ringing. Grade I listed as "an exceptional example" of the founders' work.Beverley MinsterBeverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK10 change ringing bells2,1051896-1901Third heaviest ringing peal of ten in the world.bourdon bell "Great John"7,1511902Buckfast AbbeyBuckfastleigh, Devon, UKbourdon bell "Hosanna"7,4761936One of the largest bells in the UK still rung by hand.14 change ringing bells2,0971935Heaviest ring of bells in a Catholic church hung for change ringing.Burton Memorial Tower University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States55 bell carilllon10,6951936Canberra National CarillonCanberra, Australia57 bell carillon6,1081968-2019Major overhaul in 2019, Taylor's cast new bass bell, largest bell cast at Taylor's for more than 25 years.Church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas, LiverpoolLiverpool, Merseyside14 change ringing bells2,1281952-2008New peal of thirteen change ringing bells in 1952, previous peal destroyed in Liverpool Blitz. Fourteenth bell cast in 2008.Christ Church Cathedral, DublinDublin, Ireland9 change ringing bells, including the tenor bell2,2951884-1999Largest change ringing installation in the world by number of bells (19). Taylor's augmented the bells to a ring of sixteen plus three semitones and recast the tenor bell.Duke Chapel CarillonDuke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA50 bell carillon5,0601932Evesham Bell TowerEvesham, Worcestershire14 change ringing bells1,8131951-1992One of the country's most famous detached bell towers; considered by many to be amongst the finest products of the foundry.Exeter CathedralExeter, Devon, UK5 change ringing bells including tenor bell "Grandisson"3,6841902-1922Second heaviest ring of bells hung for full circle ringing.Hull MinsterKingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire15 change ringing bells, 25-bell carillon1,3041899-2016One of the largest bell-installations in the country.Inveraray Bell TowerInveraray, Argyll & Bute, UK10 change ringing bells2,1121920Heaviest peal of change ringing bells in Scotland.Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock TowerUniversity of Birmingham, Birmingham, UKbourdon bell "Big Joe"6,1171908Leeds MinsterLeeds, West Yorkshire13 change ringing bells2,0571932Second heaviest peal of bells in Yorkshire, after only York Minster.Liverpool Anglican CathedralLiverpool, Merseyside, UKbourdon bell "Great George"14,9001940Third largest bell in the UKLiverpool Cathedral Bells accessed 20 June 2007Loughborough Memorial CarillonLoughborough, Leicestershire, UK47 bell carillon4,2111923Malta Siege BellSiege Bell Memorial, Valletta, Maltabourdon bell10,8991992Manchester Town HallManchester, UK23 bell carillon, including 13 change ringing bells2,1701937bourdon bell "Great Abel"8,2791882Memorial Church of Harvard UniversityCambridge, Massachusetts, USAWorld War I memorial bell "more than "1926Restored in 2017Nottingham Council HouseNottingham, UK5 clock bells including bourdon bell "Little John"10,5281928Second deepest clock chime in the UK after York.Rainbow Bridge CarillonNiagara Falls, Ontario, Canada55 bell carillon8,9091947Southwark CathedralSouthwark, Greater London UK2 change ringing bells2,4772016Recast tenor and 7th bells in 2016, rehung and retuned all other bells.St Andrew's Cathedral, SingaporeSingapore, Singapore13 change ringing bells1,2971888-2019Heaviest peal of change ringing bells in Asia. Original chime of 8 bells retuned or recast to form core of new ring.St Chad's Church, ShrewsburyShrewsbury, Shropshire12 change ringing bells2,0101914First complete peal of twelve true-harmonic bells cast by Taylor's.St George's Church, Vernet-les-BainsVernet-les-Bains, France10 change ringing bells2612018-2019First and only peal of change ringing bells in France.St George's Church, YpresYpres, Belgium8 change ringing bells3232017First and only peal of change ringing bells in Belgium. Cast to commemorate centenary of the end of the First World War.St George-in-the-PinesBanff, Alberta, Canada11 bell chime1926Shipped to Banff via the Panama Canal. First of only two churches in Canada to possess a set from John Taylor & Co.St Mary RedcliffeBristol, UK12+2 change ringing bells2,5751903-2012Heaviest ring of bells hung for full circle ringing in the world not in a Cathedral.St Mary's Church, SouthamptonSouthampton, Hampshire, UK10 change ringing bells1,0961945Replaced a peal of ten also cast by Taylor's in 1912, destroyed in Southampton Blitz.