Issue 39 Sept 23 - Journal - Page 15
undertake the repair of the buildings and to develop
visitor facilities.
rings of bells cast at Taylor’s. Overseas, bells from
Loughborough can also be heard throughout the world
from Australia to Africa and from the Americas to
Europe.
The work will take the Grade ll* Listed buildings off
Historic England’s “Heritage at Risk Register” making
them watertight with new roofs, gutters, down pipes, and
drainage. Brickwork will be repointed and repaired, and
windows restored. Old electrics and lighting will be
replaced, and the site will benefit from new mess facilities,
toilets, and a shower block.
However, the business has had its ups and downs over the
years, and after going into administration in 2009, it was
bought by a small group of bell enthusiasts who were
determined that this unique part of Britain’s heritage
should not be lost forever. To safeguard its future the
ownership of the buildings, land and machinery was gifted
to “The Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust”, a charity with
the sole aim of preserving its future.
The Foundry’s handbell department has been relocated
to the ground floor in a purpose-built extension to the bell
tuning shop, and a new fettling room will keep the dirty
part of the grinding of cast iron components away from
the cleaner engineering works.
The transferring of the Foundry assets has allowed access
to public funds, and initially a package of much needed
urgent repairs was supported by Historic England. Most
recently funding from the National Lottery Heritage
Fund, Charnwood Borough Council, The Pilgrim Trust,
AHF, The Garfield Weston Foundation, and others has
enabled a major restoration and development scheme to
A new education room has been completed and fitted out
with all the facilities needed for visiting groups, and the
adjoining foundry viewing gallery has been extended to
allow large groups to watch safely as new bells are cast.
Below, engineering works roof nears completion
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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