Description and History of Site:-
Important site. Bells cast here since 1738 when firm moved from across road where they had been since 1583 when Robert Mot moved works from Aldgate. Present buildings, 3-storey block with attractive shop front, 32-34 Whitechapel Rd, with workshops and foundry behind, C18th and C19th. Of special interest are old hand lathe and C18th wall crane in Fieldgate St. Among famous bells cast here are Big Ben, Big Tom and the Liberty Bell. Whitechapel Bell Foundry's long history spans the reigns of twenty seven English monarchs, and among the royal visitors to the foundry were King George V and Queen Mary who came to witness the casting of two bells for Westminster Abbey. The Foundry buildings date from 1670, four years after the Great Fire of London, and presumably replaced earlier structures lost to that conflagration. Originally built as a coaching inn called the Artichoke, the lease of the buildings was acquired by Thomas Lester - then Master Founder at Whitechapel - to accommodate the need for extra workshops and space during a time of great expansion in the craft of bellfounding. The business moved there from the north side of Whitechapel Road, and has remained on the site ever since, withstanding the ravages of war and development. The foundry closed in June 2017.

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Key Words :- Bell Foundry

Address :- 34 Whitechapel Road, London, Greater London, E1 1DY
Grid Ref :- TQ 3422 8156
Co-ordinates :- Lat 51.517024 , Long -0.066996
Local Authority :- Tower Hamlets London Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- London
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II*
Historic England List No - 1357529,
Site Condition :- Site disused - but otherwise substantially intact
Site Dates :- 1738 - 2017
Record Date :- 2 June 2018

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