BELLS OF LONG AGO

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 258, 1 November 1932, Page 3

BELLS OF LONG AGO

BACK TO LONDON AGAIN. REPAIRS AFTER 150 YEARS. After nearly 150 years the bells of the Norman Abbey of Romsey have returned to the Whitechapel Beil Foundry for cleaning and tuning. There, in 1790, they were first cast intho little old foundry in the Whitechapel Road which, since tho days of Queen Elizabeth, has made the bells for many famous churches of England. Big Ben himself was cast at Whitechapel in 1858, as also were the bells of Canterbury Cathedral, of Westminster Abbey, Southwark Cathedral, Lincoln, Winchester, Ripon, Durham and Wells cathedrals.

Bow Bells, too, the traditional chimes of the City of London, came originally from the Whitechapel Road. Here for centuries th 0 science of bell founding has been perfected by the accumulation of knowledge in the blending of metals. Generations of craftsmen have handed down their experience and skill to their successors.

Before the foundry was set up in Whitechapel tho art of bell-four,ding was in the hands of the monks, who, before the days of skilled professional craftsmen, applied themselves to the various arts necessary for the repair and beautifying of their churches and abbeys. Tn the 14th. century the art, of bell-founding was taken up by laymen, and between Whitechapel and Aidgate the London founders practised their craft. For a short period after the Reformation the art fell into abeyance, but in tho reign of Queen Elizabeth it was revived. Twelve years after her accession one, Robert. Mot, started work in tho old foundry in the Whitechapel Road, and the fifth and seventh bells in the present chimes of Westminster Abbey bear his mark.

With Mot began the Whi tec ba pel Foundry tradition which has been carried on unbroken until the present