At the end of 2021 repairs were carried out to the church bell at Walton East.
The inscription on the bell showed that it was made by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough – which is still in business – http://taylorbells.co.uk
The inscription which is part of the bell casting reads:
J. TAYLOR AND CO. ???? 1883
FREDERICK LLOYD – PHILIPPS ESQR
CHURCH – WARDEN. A.D. 1883
(F Lloyd-Philipps was from Pentypark House)
Some further research shows that the bell is approx 20″ diameter and weighs 2 cwts – 0qrs – 2lbs.
Also the church bells at Wiston and Clarbeston are by the same foundry.
Wiston: made 1897 – approx 36″ diameter and weight 5 cwts – 2qrs – 16lbs
Clarbeston: made 1896 – approx 18″ diameter and weight 1 cwt – 1qrs – 17lbs
John Taylor & Co, established in 1784, have exported bells to all parts of the world and have produced over 200 bells exceeding 2 tons in weight.
Some examples include:
The Great Peter at York Cathedral made in 1927 weighs over 10 tons.
The Great George at Liverpool Cathedral made in 1940 weighs over 14 tons
The General Post Office in Sydney has a 4 ton bell and Yale University in the USA a 6 ton bell.
In comparison Big Ben – made by a different foundry – is approx 105″ diameter and weighs over 13 tons.
And so our local church bells are in very good company.