Comments on: An Old Whitechapel Bell

By: Alan Taylor

Alan Taylor — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 14:47:33 +0000

you will find recordings of these beautiful bells on YouTube. Including “Oranges and Lemons” which the Carillion plays on the bells every day at 0900 1200 1500 1800 and 2100.
Each year in March, the annual Oranges and Lemons service is held at the church,. with the pupils of the church school in attendance and performing and singing the rhythm and dance that is part of the event. As they leave the church, each pupil is given a orange and a lemon.

By: Isis

Isis — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 11:04:41 +0000

What a wonderfully informative and evocative post! Yes, imagine listening to a bell that has been heard by the great and the good for so many centuries. My heart stopped the day I saw “So Long, Whitechapel Bell Foundry” in my mailbox. I grew up within the sound of the bells of the Washington National Cathedral which were cast at Whitechapel in the middle of the last century. On my first visit to England, I made my way to the foundry where I was greeted most warmly by the staff. Years later I took my children there, too. All best luck to those working to preserve the foundry and its heritage.

By: Helen Kerr

Helen Kerr — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 19:43:26 +0000

How many other Whitechapel bells would you find if you followed they rhyme?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oranges_and_Lemons

By: Helen Kerr

Helen Kerr — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 19:18:43 +0000

Oranges and lemons,
say the bells of St. Clement’s

This might explain Alan Taylor’s lack of enthusiasm. Perhaps it has always struck a slightly sour note.

By: Lesley Russell

Lesley Russell — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 03:20:42 +0000

The bells of St Clement Danes rang for our wedding there in January 1972. Another great story from our treasured GA.

By: Phil Maxwell

Phil Maxwell — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 10:38:05 +0000

Magnificent.

By: Anne Myserian

Anne Myserian — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 10:18:12 +0000

Thank you for writing about the bell foundry. When I was at college on Birmingham in the late ’70s, my parents came to visit and we made a trip to London specifically to go to Whitechapel to visit the foundry. Bells were one of my father’s great interests. I looked out photos that we took at that visit and am happy to share them with you if you like. I look forward to reading your blog every day! Anne, Boston, ma

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 09:12:39 +0000

What a sad tale GA. And yet uplifting. A church I pass on the 341 every Tuesday. And never been in. Must correct that.

By: John Barrett

John Barrett — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 08:52:33 +0000

This is an outstanding piece by GA on a Whitechapel bell today. I cannot add much more, have contributed two big blogs previously on the foundries big move forward !which will happen. The potential is massive for the foundry fabric, bells and most important the history of the bell people themselves. So East Enders keep it on the boil until a satisfactory conclusion is reached, for the opening of the ‘Whitechapel Bell Centre UK’ !Yes it is that important. PS I am sure the history of this old bell today will be the centre piece of a new set-up . Poet John

By: Robin

Robin — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 06:16:19 +0000

Don’t forget the bell in St. Mary’s in Burlington ,N.J. USA and of course the Liberty Bell down river in Philly. Cheers.