ABBEY'S PEACE PEAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9632, 12 June 1919, Page 7

ABBEY'S PEACE PEAL

KING VISITS FOUNDRY

LONDON, March 28. Tho King and Queen, accompanied by Princess Mary, visited the Bow roundry of Messrs Hears and Stainbunk at Whitechapel, on Friday and witnessed the casting of the lirst of the new bells for Westminster Abbey. Four new bells will in all be necessary to relit the ,peal. The metal'of one old bell will' be used, while >the other three are to be made from entirely new metal. Their Majesties, whoso visit was quite informal, were received by representatives of tlie casting linn, Bishop Ryle.(Dean of Westminster) and Mrs Ryle, and Mr Knapp lusher (Receiver-General of the Abbey) and Mrs Knapp-Jb'isher. The foundry of Messrs Hears and Staiabauk has had a continuous existence in Whitechapel since 1570, and lias been in its present premises since i7&J. The King and Queen examined with much interest the' remains of a bell which was cast at the works in 1094 for Staplehurst, in Kent, and which was sent back for recasting 300 years later. Pieces of metal were shown upon which the name and trade mark of the original head of the foundry, one Hobert 'Mott, were east. In oiio part of the works were displayed a couple of bells, which were reputed to have, been rung from a London steeple in ceiobration of the' defeat of the Spanish Armada. •' ''■ When the King, Queen and Princess arrived they took their stand in the centre of the foundry surrounded by workmen. A mould was placed in position and over it,, was lowered the outer casing into which the molten metal was to bo poured. Four crucibles filled with bell metal were ready for the \ operation and when the contents had I been carefully skimmed to remove ail impurities, the liquid metal was poured into the receiver. The Queen and Princess Mary had expressed a wish to take an actual part in casting, and for their benefit two small moulds . had been prepared near to N that for the great bell. Taking ladles of the same metal they lilled these moulds, each casting one bell. Tnese small bells, when linished, will be sent to Buckingham Palace as mementoes of the visit. The King's peace bell bears the inscription, "The Lord of Hosts is with .Us." Another of the four new ones is to be named "Ruth," and will be inscribed, "There is none othei that hVhteth for. us." The treble or smalleat, bell will be. named "Faith," and its inscription is to be "Thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory."* The fourth bell, to be named "IPax," will be recast from an existing Abbey bell. It is to bear the inscription, Canticum novum Cantate Tib." The foreman of the foundry, Mr Dunwell, who was presented to their Majesties, told the King that he had been with the firm for 35 years, and that many of his fellow-workmen also had long periods to their credit. They wore more like a family than a body of workmen. He said there was a trade I secret in the composition of bell metal, but that it might bo generally stated that tin and copper were used in the proportion of 4Joz. of tin to each 16oz of copper. The idea that silver was employed was a popular fallacy. A photograph of their Majesties, with the boll as a foreground, was then taken. When they had taken their positions, the King said: "But we are not to be here alone. You are much more important than we are (turning to the workmen), seeing you have made the bell." Some of the principal workmen then joined the group, when the Queen particularly asked that all might be included. She asked: "Have you got everybody in?" and on being informed that practically the whole group was included, she added. "That will not do at all. We must have everybody included."