Loughborough Bellfoundry Tour and Museum visit

Join us for a tour of this truly unique place. Spice has done many behind the scenes tours over the years and this is a really special one.

Our tour begins with a short talk introducing the Taylor’s story. We will then enter the Victorian factory building to experience the Full Foundry Works. Exploring the Victorian covered yard, where bells arrive for repair and depart for their new homes. We will also take in the joinery shop and learn how Taylor’s craftsmen produce bell wheels, carillon claviers and other vital pieces of the bell installation. The tour also includes a visit to the magical tuning shop, where the iconic sound of a Taylor’s bell is perfected.

Entry into their brand-new interactive museum is included in the ticket price. Come and learn more about the Bell founding process, and the history of Bell founding by exploring their two new galleries.

Foundry tours last approximately 1 hour 30 mins and are led by one of their expert guides who will be happy to answer any questions.

Taylor's is a working foundry, so what you see on the day will vary according to current jobs. We cannot guarantee that a casting will take place on the day of your visit, but there is always plenty to see and enjoy!

John Taylor & Co. continues a line of bell founding which has been unbroken since the middle of the 14th Century, when Johannes de Stafford was active only 10 miles from the site of the present foundry. Since 1784 the business has been in the hands of the Taylor family. In 1839 the business settled in Loughborough and is now proud to operate the largest bell foundry in the world. Centuries of experience, together with up to the minute advances in technology, has put Taylors at the forefront in the design and manufacture of bells, their fittings and frameworks for all methods of sounding bells. Taylors were also the first bellfounder to adopt "true harmonic" tuning in the late 19th century.

This is a very special place. Many churches & cathedrals across the world have used bells cast at Taylor's. In 1881 they cast the largest bell in Britain, "Great Paul", for St Paul's Cathedral in London, weighing 17,002 kilograms (37,483 lb) or more than 17 metric tons! We are sure that you will find this a fascinating afternoon.

Please note this won’t be a Spice exclusive tour unless we get enough to make it exclusive.