Tour of Loughborough Bellfoundry – Visit – 18th November 2025
On 18th November, thirteen members of the Lubenham Heritage Group ventured to Loughborough for an outstanding guided tour of the UK’s only remaining Bell Foundry. Thanks go to Esther for organising the visit and our two volunteer guides for the morning.
Click here to see some of the photos from our trip.
Taylor’s Bell Foundry has an illustrious history going back to 1775, when the founder was an apprentice at Edward Arnold’s in St Neots.
In 1839, the family business was established in Loughborough they have produced some of the most famous bells in the country, including:
- Great Paul: at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, this is the largest bell ever cast in the British Isles, weighing 16.7 tons.
- Great Peter: the hour bell chime at York minster, weighing 10 tons.
- Olympic Bell: Cast for the 2012 Olympic Games, it is the heaviest tuned bell in the world.
- Great George: A bourdon bell for Liverpool Cathedral, it is the second-largest bell in Britain.
- Little John: A famous bell at the Nottingham Council House.
To hear the chimes from some of these bells visit the Bell Sounds page on the Taylor’s Foundry web site. More details about Taylor’s Bell foundry are to be found on their excellent website at: https://belltrust.co.uk.
Nearby Attractions
We’re just 0.7 miles (around a 15-minute walk) from Queen’s Park in Loughborough town centre. Queen’s Park is home to:
- The Charnwood Museum
- The Loughborough Carillon Tower and War Memorial Museum