Place    From 1570 

Whitechapel Bell Foundry

Categories: Commerce, Engineering

This foundry is the oldest manufacturing company in the UK and is still making bells at 32/34 Whitechapel Road. Probably their most famous creation is Big Ben (we thank Alice, a member of a children's history club, for providing this excellent link). The history pages of our picture source are extensive (but, 2022, defunct).

2016: Sadly we learnt that this foundry is due to close May 2017 and the building will be sold. UCL published a good history of the foundry. Save the Foundry!!

2021: The long campaign to save the Foundry is over - it will become a bell-themed boutique hotel.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Whitechapel Bell Foundry

Commemorated ati

Borough Market Bell (1)

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall carried out the first ringing...

Read More

Mile End mural

Murals are often rather fun puzzles so do have a go identifying what you can ...

Read More

St Mary Matfelon

Our picture comes from Google satellite view and shows, better than can be se...

Read More

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Whitechapel Bell Foundry

Creations i

2012 Olympics Bell

The quotation, from Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', was spoken by Kenneth Branag...

Read More

Other Subjects

J. T. Pedder

J. T. Pedder

John Thomas Pedder was born in 1823 in Romford, Essex, the second of the eighteen children of Daniel Pedder (1799-1876) and Mary Ann Pedder née Dunnings (1801-1869). His father was a leather currie...

Person, Commerce

2 memorials
Denis Johnson

Denis Johnson

In 1819, made and sold Britain's first bicycle in its hobby-horse form. As a coachmaker Johnson was able to make significant improvements to the two-wheel velocipede, as invented by von Drais. He o...

Person, Commerce, Engineering

1 memorial
Joseph Whitehead & Sons Ltd

Joseph Whitehead & Sons Ltd

Contractor in marble work, responsible for the design and execution of works such as the drinking fountains for the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association. Based at Imperial W...

Group, Architecture, Commerce, Property, Sculpture

4 memorials
William Henry Boney

William Henry Boney

Architect.  Also designed the Jackson's Lane Methodist church, Highgate and Little Stanmore Church.  Active 1889 and 1905. Since we first published this article we have, in November 2024, been con...

Person, Architecture, Commerce

1 memorial
John Lewis

John Lewis

Retailer. Born at Town Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. He worked in several drapery firms before opening his own business at number 132 (later 286) Oxford Street in 1864. In 1906 he walked from h...

Person, Commerce

1 memorial