Denison specified that the composition of all the bells should be twenty-two parts copper to seven parts of tin. The casting of the four smaller bells presented no problem to the Cripplegate foundry, but as Warners were unable to guarantee the note which would be sounded by the hour bell, their casting was delayed until this was known. As the furnaces at Cripplegate were not capable of receiving such a a large mould, it was decided that the great bell should be cast at Stockton-on-Tees, with Warners being responsible for its removal to London. This was unacceptable to the Government and so the contract was let to Warners.įortunately, Denison had included campanology in his studies and as early as 1854 had been asked to act as referee for the design and construction of the bells. Warners were very keen to point out that they had recently commissioned two new large furnaces for their foundry at Norton, near Stockton-on-Tees, while Taylors insisted on receiving payment in advance. He also claimed that bells had been made at Whitechapel since before the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and, moreover, that his was the only firm in Britain with sufficient expertise to cast such a large bell. Like Benjamin Vulliamy before him, George Mears of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry considered himself to be at the top of his craft and declined to tender in competition with anyone else. ![]() As with the clock, tenders were invited from three founders for the manufacture of the bells – John Warner & Sons of Cripplegate, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and John Taylor & Company of Loughborough. Sir Charles Barry’s (he had been knighted in 1852) original plan called for an hour bell of 14 tons together with eight quarter bells of various sizes, but Edmund Beckett Denison had designed the mechanism to chime the quarters on just four bells and his reason for doing this would become apparent.Īt one time there were many foundries scattered throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom supplying bells for the numerous churches which were being built, but nowadays the few churches which are under construction are seldom provided with bells, so that the number of bell foundries has declined to such an extent that only a few remain. ![]() Source: “Big Ben: The Bell, The Clock and The Tower,” by Peter MacDonald.The great bell on which the Westminster clock would strike the hours was to be the largest ever cast in Britain. – Big Ben celebrates its 150th anniversary. The damage is fully repaired within a year. However, the clock still keeps excellent time.Īug– The clock suffers major mechanical failure. – German bombing wrecks Parliament, damages the clock tower. 1, 1939 – The clock’s lights are extinguished at the outbreak of World War II. ![]() On rare occasions when the bell is being repaired or inspected, Great Tom takes over. 17, 1924 – The BBC begins regular broadcasts of Big Ben’s bongs. Big Ben starts tolling a few days later, but cracks again within months and is out of service until 1862.ġ916 – The clock is silenced for two years of World War I lest it attract German Zeppelins toward Parliament.įeb. – The clock officially starts keeping time. The new one is raised to the belfry almost exactly one year later. 17, 1857 – The bell cracks during testing and has to be broken up and recast. ![]() Aug– Big Ben, the large bell, is cast in northern England and is almost lost in stormy seas as it is shipped to London.
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