If they allow the developers to have their way, there won’t be a foundry. An excuse will be concocted, either cost or safety, for their boutique foundry for tourists idea to never see fruition. That space will be a gift shop or small cafe. The only remains of the foundry will be a few framed black and white photos on the wall. In a few years, those will be replaced.

That area doesn’t need another boutique hotel. And a few B&W photos aren’t going to draw the tourists in. So they’ll sell that hotel and it will be remade again and all remnants of centuries of history will be gone.

I hope the out come of this is to turn the foundry over to the society/groups that are going to make it viable again.

Important to also acknowledge that each human can only function to the best of their capacity and some find themselves suddenly out of their depth and fearful due to any type of change to their environment or health, unable to even make a wise decision, let alone continue.
It has happened to most of us.

My own father was in partnership with a person who was blinkered + frugal.
The partner very suddenly sold up for the price of the building.
After the initial hurt, shock
and financial worry came the silver lining : less money but happiness without the daily battle of wits.
A new door soon opened.

Nigel’s interview serves as a poignant lesson for all businesses, for would be partnerships and employees
ie not to expect a gallon from a pint person, or team with someone who may not share one’s own vision + work ethic.

It is mind numbing to invest 40 years of work to find that sudden unbridled changes bring those efforts to a halt unecessarily, albeit at present we all hope it has merely been a long pause to herald a fantastic new ‘improved’ enterprise that was truly meant to be.

It appears that every step of the foundry’s recent wobbly history has served to bring together the necessary dynamic characters capable of supporting an exciting ? inspiring renaissance.

l, too, so wish for all that Nigel wishes for our heritage, for the local community, for the LONDON BELL FOUNDRY and for all who sail in her.

((?))

But it was through reading Spitalfields Life that I got to know the real story about bells, and how they are made. And, even better, I’ve been introduced to the people who work in this specialized profession.

Consider me part of the cheering section. I hope there is a positive outcome for the Foundry and all the workers. Thank you, GA, for shining a light — and ringing that bell.

I hope Nigel will be installed at the Man in Charge of the newborn Whitechapel Bell Foundry when the proceedings are complete.

It’s unfortunate his vision for the future wasn’t implemented years ago.

GA, that is a very realistic assessment by Nigel Taylor about the impending demise of the Bell Foundry.

“I knew the Whitechapel Bell Foundry needed to put in more competitive quotes and carry out free inspections for prospective jobs. We were the only firm in the business that charged for quotations. It cost us a lot of work.”

One enticement that is universal in advertising for services – “FREE ESTIMATES!”