History
The History of Waverton Church Bells
A ring of four Bells was cast by George Lee of Congleton in 1615. George Lee was a foreman employed by the Odlfields Bell Founders of Nottingham and it is believed that he worked Congleton branch foundry in conjunction with another Oldfields foreman, Paul Hutton. Since the foundry was owned and operated by the Old fields, bells cast at Congleton bore a close resemblance to the bells cast at the Nottingham foundry and over several generations means the Oldlfields were a most prolific family of bell founders. The Congleton foundry was the only one ever worked in the county of Cheshire.
In 1908 two new treble bells were cast by John Taylor of Loughborough to augment the original ring for four bells to a ring of a six bells. John Taylor also installed a new cast iron low side frame on steel foundation girders.
The original four bells had their cannons removed and were quarter turned to present unworn surfaces of their soundbows to the blows of the clappers. New cast iron heads stocks were fitted with gudgeons running in plain brass bearings. Independent crown staples were fitted. The bells are fitted with Hastings stays.
In 1975 the gudgeons were replaced and self aligning ball-bearings replaced the plane and brass bearings. The clappers were refurbished and frictional parts underwent refurbishment.
Fifty members of the St. Peter’s family travelled to “John Taylor, Bell founders,” in Loughborough, to see the casting of two new bells for our church.
It proved a rewarding trip. A comfortable journey and enjoyable pub lunch, preceded an entertaining and informative guided tour of the Foundry Museum and factory, during which we learned about the process of bell-making and the history of the firm. Taylor’s is the largest bell foundry in the world, is one of only two in Britain, and has cast bells for over 200 years – including “Great Paul” in St. Paul’s Cathedral, which at over 16 tons in weight is the largest in the British Isles
.
The climax of the tour came in the Bell Foundry itself, in appearance seemingly unchanged from 200 years ago. It was here that we saw the Waverton Bells cast, as the molten metal was poured into the prepared mould. An exciting moment in the history of St. Peter’s, enjoyed and appreciated by all those present.
There was further excitement on the journey home, as the coach passed through a heavy snowstorm, but we returned safely to Waverton, to end a day that will live in the memory.
A ring of four Bells was cast by George Lee of Congleton in 1615. George Lee was a foreman employed by the Odlfields Bell Founders of Nottingham and it is believed that he worked Congleton branch foundry in conjunction with another Oldfields foreman, Paul Hutton. Since the foundry was owned and operated by the Old fields, bells cast at Congleton bore a close resemblance to the bells cast at the Nottingham foundry and over several generations means the Oldlfields were a most prolific family of bell founders. The Congleton foundry was the only one ever worked in the county of Cheshire.
In 1908 two new treble bells were cast by John Taylor of Loughborough to augment the original ring for four bells to a ring of a six bells. John Taylor also installed a new cast iron low side frame on steel foundation girders.
The original four bells had their cannons removed and were quarter turned to present unworn surfaces of their soundbows to the blows of the clappers. New cast iron heads stocks were fitted with gudgeons running in plain brass bearings. Independent crown staples were fitted. The bells are fitted with Hastings stays.
In 1975 the gudgeons were replaced and self aligning ball-bearings replaced the plane and brass bearings. The clappers were refurbished and frictional parts underwent refurbishment.
Fifty members of the St. Peter’s family travelled to “John Taylor, Bell founders,” in Loughborough, to see the casting of two new bells for our church.
It proved a rewarding trip. A comfortable journey and enjoyable pub lunch, preceded an entertaining and informative guided tour of the Foundry Museum and factory, during which we learned about the process of bell-making and the history of the firm. Taylor’s is the largest bell foundry in the world, is one of only two in Britain, and has cast bells for over 200 years – including “Great Paul” in St. Paul’s Cathedral, which at over 16 tons in weight is the largest in the British Isles
.
The climax of the tour came in the Bell Foundry itself, in appearance seemingly unchanged from 200 years ago. It was here that we saw the Waverton Bells cast, as the molten metal was poured into the prepared mould. An exciting moment in the history of St. Peter’s, enjoyed and appreciated by all those present.
There was further excitement on the journey home, as the coach passed through a heavy snowstorm, but we returned safely to Waverton, to end a day that will live in the memory.